ICMSA condemn decision to reveal changes in nitrates regulations via Dail question as ‘downright disrespectful and unacceptable’

The decision of the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine to inform farmers of changes in nitrate regulations via a Dail parliamentary question has been described by ICMSA as “downright disrespectful and unacceptable” and will undermine trust in the communications and sincerity on this issue, according to Denis Drennan, chairperson of ICMSA’s Farm & Rural Affairs Committee.

“For farmers to learn – by this means – that they have been served with three months-notice whereby many of them will have to reduce cow numbers, increase land or find an alternative approach to address nitrates is simply unfair and just downright disrespectful. The period of three months is simply too short and at this stage we’re calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine to delay this and instead look at the kind of timeframe needed for affected farmers to adjust their production patterns to meet the new requirements - particularly to the move from 85kgs of N to 89kgs of N per dairy cow”, observed Mr Drennan.

Noting the contrast between the breeding decisions made by farmers and involving a three-year cycle from conception to milking cow and the department’s ‘off-hand’ revealing of the three-month notice, Mr Drennan asked for some understanding of the realities around lead-in timeframes and actual farming timetables.

“ICMSA has repeatedly stressed that farmers want to and will be part of the solution. We’re completely on-side; but the regulators have to respect the realities of farming and breeding and that does mean reasonable timeframe to make the necessary adjustments and – even more importantly – maintain proper direct communication with farmers and their organisations that means we don’t have to learn about things affecting our livelihoods in this second-hand and disrespectful way”, said the Farm & Rural Affairs chairperson.

Mr Drennan concluded by asking the minister to recognise reality and defer the implementation of these decisions until farmers can adjust existing arrangements accordingly.