THE MINISTER FOR Agriculture said he is “standing with farmers” after a meeting of 2,000 people on the soon-to-expire nitrates derogation last night in Corrin Mart in Fermoy, Cork.

The meeting was organised by the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) to discuss concerns over changes to Ireland’s derogation from EU environmental nitrates limits.

The derogation is a key exception that allows Irish farmers to use more nitrogen than their EU counterparts and keep denser cow herds.

Under the Nitrates Directive, farmers have to ensure that nitrogen from organic manure applied to their land does not exceed 170kg per hectare per year – but due to Ireland’s grass-fed farming model some farmers can use up to 250kg.

This exception is set to expire for Ireland – impacting around 7,000 farmers – on 1 January.

It comes as a recent report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that levels of nitrogen in Irish rivers have jumped by 16% this year.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland this morning, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said that many farmers at last night’s meeting were concerned how the limits will impact future generations of Irish farmers.

Negotiations

The European Commission recently told the Government that to to continue with an exception, Ireland must demonstrate that is it conserving designated sites or species under the EU’s Habitats Directive.

The Minister for Agriculture said today that “intensive” engagements have been ongoing between his Department and the EU Commission to retain the derogation. EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswell is scheduled to visit Ireland this Friday.

He said his Department is attempting to show the EU commission that Ireland needs more time to assess how well it is complying with the Habitats Directive.

The Department is currently negotiating with the Commission before they put forward their proposal for the future derogation which will be in December – but if it’s not agreed to, farmers could be without a derogation until March.

“I said to farmers last night, I made the commitment to fight to get the best possible deal for them as well. Ideally, you would give farmers that certainty in the December meeting, but it’s better to get the right deal than a quick deal.”

Heydon said he plans to show Commissioner Roswell that the additional measures derogation farmers are taking to reduce emissions are working, adding that the government will help farmers investing in measures to reduce emissions.