It is two years ago this week since the Department of Agriculture officials stood at the Moorepark open day and tried to justify the breaking down of the country into different maximum organic nitrogen levels (stocking rate regions).

It was the first change from the whole country designation that previously allowed a 250kg grazing stocking rate across the whole country.

The most surprising aspect of what was called the EPA red map at the time showing the different regions was the fact that the whole of the midlands and northwest was reduced to a 220kg/ha stocking rate, the same as the south and east.

That designation of the midlands was because of elevated phosphorus in rivers as opposed to nitrates.

In the aftermath, strong words, protests, clarifications, promises and EU Commissioner visits all followed but to no avail. The 220kg rate for large swathes of the country was enshrined in law.

Pointless

In effect, farmers were forced to quickly scale back stock or waste money on pointless paper acres in many cases.

Since then, the indiscriminate, broad-brush stroke rules against the best operators have swept the country. The 220kg/ha stocking limit is now the same for all regions.

Maximum artificial fertiliser levels were reduced and a new database created. Teagasc launched a national water initiative and recently announced six new catchment leaders. Politicians promised to more forcefully defend the sector.

Dairy Industry Ireland commissioned EY to put a cost on the transition. We in the Irish Farmers Journal commissioned KPMG to take a broader view on the impact of CAP changes, nitrates etc.

Both reports detailed billions of losses to the wider farm sector with planned changes. We understand Teagasc has now completed an economic assessment for the Department that puts a value of €300m on the loss of the derogation.

As we understand it, that draft report remains on the minister’s desk, unfinished according to the Department. In addition, Teagasc is completing a study in which preliminary results suggest that all farmers will need 20% to 30% more slurry storage.

Farmers who attended the Moorepark open day on Wednesday remain in limbo. They don’t know what their stocking rate limit will be in 2026, not to mind 2028.

Many are willing to invest, irrespective of the uncertainty, but are awaiting a promised ‘planning exemption’. The wait continues.

Trinkets

It now looks increasingly likely that further TAMS grant aid will be limited to many because the pot has been spent on trinkets and knick-knacks.

The 60% grant aid for slurry storage opened in January, but the promised planning exemption piece remains just a promise.

The bottom line is that approval for planning and grant aid needs to speed up big time. Farmers need certainty. Farmers waiting for planning and in addition then waiting for Department approval is nonsensical.

It slows investment in an area that badly requires it. Is it really any wonder the co-ops are fearful of further fallout and leakage from the sector?

It’s a pity they have to hold closed door meetings on the morning of what should be a showcase opportunity in Irish dairy farming.

We really need to kick off the shackles and open up sustainable growth and investment again. It’s what Ireland is good at on a global scale. It will be too late to recognise this in two years’ time when the pharma profits are long gone.

No other European country can do what our farmers can, and these countries often have bigger environmental problems.

International speakers reaffirmed this message at the Moorepark Open Day forums yesterday. The French would love to have our climate and production system.

So let’s fix the water. Let’s dive deep into catchment by catchment solutions for all farmers. Let’s focus research on improving grass and clover yield, persistency and management.

Let’s continue to drive on milk solids production, underpinned by better fertility. We saw yesterday there are thousands of young people queuing to get into dairy farming, let’s not disappoint them.