ICMSA welcomes Crude Protein exemption but wants the process simplified

THE decision by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine to provide an exemption to the 15% crude protein requirement after April 15 for farmers farming above 130kgs of N per hectare has been welcomed by the Deputy President of ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, who said that it was one of a number of measures the association had sought for those farmers dealing with a very prolonged period of atrocious weather leading to stressful work scheduling and financial issues on farms.

That welcome was tempered, said Mr Carroll, by the Department’s decision to introduce yet another paper trail for farmers where a FAS advisor or nutritionist will have to sign off on the requirement for a higher crude protein concentrate after April 15, 2024.

“To be honest, you only have to look out the window to see the justification for an extension, so the decision is welcome. But ICMSA thinks the Minister should have simply changed the date from April 15 to May 1 and certainly dispensed with the need for a paper trail.

“Farmers have enough on their plate without this additional requirement and involving advisors at one of the busiest times of the year makes absolutely no sense for a piece of paper that will ultimately end up in a shredder without absolutely no benefit for the environment,” said Mr Carroll.

“So the exemption is required and is a welcome development, but the Minister should change the procedure for securing the exemption by simply extending the date to 1 May with an option for further extension, remove the paper trail requirement, and actually helping farmers deal with the serious challenges facing them at this time,” concluded the ICMSA Deputy President.