Peatland
Rachel Donovan on 24 Nov 2021
New bill to put an end to imported peat
The new bill is a part of the just transition to reduce Irish horticultural growers’ reliance on expensive imported peat as a growing medium for their produce.
Rachel Donovan on 24 Nov 2021
Importation of peat will disrupt business – IFA
IFA chair of the mushroom producers committee Gerard O’Reilly, who is a mushroom farmer in Athlone, said he fears the cost of importing peat could cut margins too low.
Rachel Donovan on 23 Nov 2021
New bill will see peat being extracted again
Senator Regina Doherty introduced a bill on Tuesday at Leinster House which will see the extraction of peat as part of a just transition.
Barry Murphy on 15 Nov 2021
‘Crisis’ in the horticulture sector – Sinn Féin
'There are currently no alternatives' to the use of peat for the horticultural sector and it is 'nonsensical' to be importing it from Latvia, according to Sinn Féin.
Caitríona Morrissey on 05 Nov 2021
IFA welcomes Tánaiste’s comments on horticultural peat shortage
The farm organisation said it fully appreciates the environmental importance of peatlands and the need to look at alternative substrates, but there are no substitutes.
Caoimhe Harney on 04 Nov 2021
Climate Action Plan: the actions announced for farming
Rachel Donovan, Caoimhe Harney and Amy Forde take a look at the measures announced under the Climate Action Plan for farming.
Amy Forde on 02 Nov 2021
COP26: it’s time to ‘re-plumb’ the wetlands
The UK's Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has an aspiration to create at least 100,000ha of new wetland habitats across the UK.
Caoimhe Harney on 28 Oct 2021
‘Importing peat does not make sense in any person’s language’
Senator Regina Doherty has called on the Government to reinstate the harvesting of peat for the horticultural industry.
Caoimhe Harney on 27 Oct 2021
Importing peat into Ireland is ‘the paradox of the century’
The IFA horticulture chair has said that he fears for the viability and future of his sector.
Caoimhe Harney on 13 Oct 2021
Hackett only interested in ‘window dressing’ for Green Party voters – IFA
The IFA has said the horticulture sector has been abandoned by Government inaction.
Amy Forde on 06 Oct 2021
River plan calls for more inspections, fertiliser cuts
New measures are required to reduce the loss of fertilisers and soil from farmland into water, according to the River Basin Management Plan for 2022 to 2027.
Caoimhe Harney on 05 Oct 2021
Department announces two new projects under Carbon Tax Fund
One project will establish the extent of peat soil in agricultural management, and the second will monitor soil moisture levels to better understand the removal and loss of carbon from the soils.
Caoimhe Harney on 27 Sep 2021
Harvesting of Irish peat a matter of urgency - Doherty
Senator Regina Doherty has said that climate action policies must be implemented in such a way that does not wipe out livelihoods.
Caoimhe Harney on 23 Sep 2021
Importing peat 'utterly ludicrous and a total travesty' - IFA
The IFA has called on the Government to demonstrate political leadership to sort out the peat debacle.
Peter McCann on 22 Sep 2021
Market for soil carbon is at ‘an early stage’
The Woodland Carbon Code is used to certify that the trees are being managed in a way that leads to permanent and measurable carbon capture
Caoimhe Harney on 21 Sep 2021
Almost 4,000t of Latvian peat arrives in Ireland
The shipment is a result of a High Court ruling in 2019 which effectively banned the harvesting of peat from Irish bogs.
Amy Forde on 15 Sep 2021
Extreme rainfall events triggered landslides
Last year, the Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) recorded three landslides in Kerry, Leitrim and Donegal.
Caoimhe Harney on 05 Sep 2021
700 fleeces of wool being used to construct a walkway in Leitrim
The project which will use 700 fleeces in total and is one of the first of its kind in the country.
Noel Bardon on 04 Aug 2021
Results-based environmental pilot rolled out in midlands
Minister Hackett unveiled an agri-environmental scheme for farmers bordering raised bog in the midlands.
Noel Bardon on 29 Jul 2021
€1.2m scheme for farming on peat soils unveiled
Minister Hackett has announced the first details of the new FarmPEAT agri-environmental scheme.