Draconian livestock cuts never entered the equation for me, says McConalogue
AGRICULTURE Minister Charlie McConalogue has warned his
Green partners in Government there will be no compulsory herd reductions on his watch.
Mr McConalogue was one of the most influential voices in the Coalition pushing for the lower agreed 25% emissions target as Green ministers argued for up to 30%.
Giving an insight into the negotiations, the Donegal TD told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘The key in seeking to reach an outcome in talks with my Cabinet colleagues as part of the sectoral ceilings was delivering a fair and balanced decision for the agrifood sector. Balance was key.
‘My overarching ambition was twofold: to ensure that we keep farmers farming now and into the future for the next generation while working hard to reduce emissions from the sector.
‘This is not to single out agriculture because all sectors of society have to play a huge role over the course of this decade.’
Mr McConalogue signalled that a ‘decade of change’ looms for farming. But he insisted: ‘The bedrock of the sector will continue to be high-quality dairy, beef and sheep proteins as well as our tillage crops for the next 10, 20 and even 30 years.
‘Farmers and this sector have been on a pathway to reduce emissions for many years but we are now stepping up those ambitions.’
Despite the challenges facing farmers, the minister definitively ruled out any herd reductions.
He told the MoS: ‘A key priority of mine in agreeing the agriculture sectoral budget this week was ensuring that all measures for farmers would be voluntary. This is because I know that farmers are a very keen to be part of the country’s overall climate ambition.
‘There will be no measure or policy forced upon our farm families. As I have always done since I was appointed, I will engage meaningfully with farmers and their representatives. Some sort of draconian forced reduction of livestock numbers never entered the equation for me.’
Mr McConalogue said there will be natural wastage in the size of herds if farmers voluntarily diversify into areas such as energy.
‘Where that leads to changes, where that leads to somebody doing more energy and less livestock, that’s something which obviously would mean fewer cattle or sheep or livestock in general on an individual’s farm.’
But he stressed: ‘Nobody will be corralled; this is a partnership between me and the farm families of Ireland.’
The minister also said technological developments will bring ‘significant opportunities’ and income streams for farmers.
‘At the end of the decade, a significant portion the people reading this article at the kitchen table with an electric kettle on in the background, could be powered using electricity generated on Irish farms. Food processors could be using heat generated by grass and animal and food waste,’ he told the MoS.
‘This will also become a really important income stream for farm families in the time ahead.’
Mr McConalogue also said there needs to be a far more positive narrative around Irish farming.
‘Our farmers are pioneers, innovators and committed producers of world-class food.
The sustainable food produced on Irish farms forms the bedrock of our €13.5bn export sector.
‘The argument that our farm families aren’t up for playing their part in meeting our climate ambitions is totally false.
‘The sector has been on a journey regarding emissions reduction for the last number of years. While the sectoral emissions ceiling marks a further step-up in ambition, we can be comfortable in the knowledge that the sector will deliver and will continue to produce world-class products,’ he added.
He said agriculture ‘is the first sector in Ireland to produce a credible road map [AgClimatise] transitioning the sector towards our long-term ambition of climate neutrality by 2050’. And he added: ‘It has always been my priority that we have an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable rural economy, supporting family farms in contributing to our overall climate ambition and leaving no one behind.’
The minister also insisted farmers would be supported, not scapegoated, adding: ‘Backed by the Government, our farmers will have a crucial role to play in meeting our climate goals’. However, not everyone in Fianna Fáil is convinced the party is doing enough to support farmers.
The party’s Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher warned the minister he expects ‘detailed figures’ on precisely how farmers will be assisted at Fianna Fáil’s think-in next month.
In an indication of ongoing feuding in the party, Mr Kelleher was scathing of the Government’s response to climate change and agriculture to date.
He said as sectoral carbon emissions targets have been announced, the Government must now outline tangible supports.
‘In the agricultural sector, it’s clear that farmers will need supports and financial incentives to help meet the targets,’ he said.
And he was sharply critical of some Government measures.
‘Take the issue of anaerobic digestion [the capture of methane gas from animal waste to create a source of energy]. Last year, the Government announced a pilot scheme. At the time, I questioned the necessity for a pilot scheme.
‘This isn’t new technology. It’s been in use across Europe for decades. It’s time for action and it’s time for serious investment and co-operation with farm organisations and agricultural cooperatives.’
Mr Kelleher also warned there needs to be ‘real action on solar power’, adding: ‘There are still way too many barriers to homeowners and farmers selling excess electricity into the grid.
‘A huge proportion of solargenerated electricity is lost due to the inability of small producers to sell it into the national grid. It is simply no longer acceptable to be literally throwing away carbonfree electricity every day.
‘Today I’ve communicated with the Minister for Agriculture my concerns on this issue and have requested a detailed briefing at the forthcoming Fianna Fáil parliamentary party think-in in September on these issues.’