Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) has said that the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data shows that nutrient levels in Irish rivers are at an eight-year low, with a 10% national reduction in nitrate concentrations in 2024 alone.
“Ireland already has some of Europe’s cleanest waterways and lowest nitrate levels, and the Farming for Water initiative – driven by farm families and supported by a €60m EIP fund – has seen over 4,000 farmer applications in its first year.
“It builds on earlier water quality efforts, with hundreds of thousands of actions already taken nationwide,” DII said.
The industry body said that Irish farmers have also achieved:
A 24% reduction in nitrogen, 38% in phosphorus, and 27% in potash sales since 2018.A 4.6% drop in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, at a time when transport emissions are increasing.97% farmer participation in eco schemes.6,300km of watercourses protected under ACRES, the equivalent of a river from Dublin to Denver in the US Midwest.2,400km of hedgerows planted, the equivalent of Dublin to Kyiv.Farming model
These results are not just promising, they are proof that Ireland’s grass-based family farming model can coexist with and enhance environmental protection, according to DII.
“The EPA’s own indicators show that 83% of rivers have high, good, or moderate biological quality, and the EU’s own European Environment Agency (EEA) stating that 98.5% of Irish groundwater testing sites for nitrates are compliant with EU standards, one of the best in Europe.
“Yet despite this progress, the future of Ireland’s nitrates derogation – a cornerstone of sustainable grass-based farming, and our rural economy - is under threat,” it said.
This derogation has been in place for over 30 years and imposes additional environmental conditionality on farmers who avail of it, further safeguarding water quality, the industry body said.
“In fact, both Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture have indicated a loss will likely worsen water quality as it will loosen regulations,” the body maintained.
Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) has said that the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data shows that nutrient levels in Irish rivers are at an eight-year low, with a 10% national reduction in nitrate concentrations in 2024 alone.
“Ireland already has some of Europe’s cleanest waterways and lowest nitrate levels, and the Farming for Water initiative – driven by farm families and supported by a €60m EIP fund – has seen over 4,000 farmer applications in its first year.
“It builds on earlier water quality efforts, with hundreds of thousands of actions already taken nationwide,” DII said.
The industry body said that Irish farmers have also achieved:
A 24% reduction in nitrogen, 38% in phosphorus, and 27% in potash sales since 2018.A 4.6% drop in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, at a time when transport emissions are increasing.97% farmer participation in eco schemes.6,300km of watercourses protected under ACRES, the equivalent of a river from Dublin to Denver in the US Midwest.2,400km of hedgerows planted, the equivalent of Dublin to Kyiv.Farming model
These results are not just promising, they are proof that Ireland’s grass-based family farming model can coexist with and enhance environmental protection, according to DII.
“The EPA’s own indicators show that 83% of rivers have high, good, or moderate biological quality, and the EU’s own European Environment Agency (EEA) stating that 98.5% of Irish groundwater testing sites for nitrates are compliant with EU standards, one of the best in Europe.
“Yet despite this progress, the future of Ireland’s nitrates derogation – a cornerstone of sustainable grass-based farming, and our rural economy - is under threat,” it said.
This derogation has been in place for over 30 years and imposes additional environmental conditionality on farmers who avail of it, further safeguarding water quality, the industry body said.
“In fact, both Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture have indicated a loss will likely worsen water quality as it will loosen regulations,” the body maintained.
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