Editorial: Dutch move on nitrates is positive

To see MEP Billy Kelleher among farmers in south Tipperary is positive. He’s listening and being well informed.

Unfortunately, we didn’t hear any more positive insights on the position of Ireland’s derogation other than that the political machine in Europe is making itself heard on the importance of the nitrates derogation.

The fact that the Dutch minister for agriculture Femke Wiersma has submitted an application to the European Commission for a new derogation is positive. Irish policymakers and elected officials have been at pains telling Irish farmers that Ireland is on its own.

Surely the powers that be in Brussels can see the bluntness of the crude tool that stocking rate limits are when attempting to improve water quality? It’s not working for Europe. We need more region and system specific measures.

The Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) report published this week once again highlights the improvement in water quality driven by farmers and the potential cumulative loss of €45bn over 10 years if the derogation is lost.

It’s about time that we heard the real economic impact assessment instead of meaningless nonsense from some that think farmers don’t care about the environment. Clearly from the DII report, farmers can sustain a grazing industry and improve water quality.

Siobhan Walsh’s report from the US corn belt this week highlights the scale of the US crop and the impact it is having on global grain prices. The Irish grain harvest is a drop in the ocean. The fact that grain yields in central England are decimated in 2025 matters nothing, as it’s just another drop in the ocean.

If what happened in central England happened globally, grain prices could be double what they are now. We hope to continue to invest in special, hands-on and unique content like Siobhan’s report to help better inform and contextualise global trade that is critical for Irish tillage farmers.

Back home, the disappointment in the Irish tillage sector is palpable again this week with the news that Tirlán is scaling back gluten free oat contracts.

This development on top of the malting barley and whiskey pressures means ‘price premium’ alternatives that are necessary for Irish tillage farmers to gain some decent level of income and price premium over feed barley returns are reduced.

Without these shining lights, it’s easier to step back from sowing. Then if scale is much reduced, it is often easier to step back altogether.

The upcoming tillage industry initiatives and meetings, in public and behind closed doors, need to deliver some good news or the option for tillage farmers to step back from sowing becomes easier and easier.