Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
5. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has carried out research on the optimal size of the national cattle and sheep herd in the context of fodder and emissions. [32067/18]
View answerThe solution I have is to start destocking. We are overstocked. We hear every farmer around the country saying that because the physical reality is that we cannot feed our cattle, not to mention the issue of emissions. We have a 50 million tonne overshoot which we have to deal with by 2030. The agriculture industry has to play its part in that. We also have to destock because of water pollution. It is becoming increasingly clear that we cannot feed our cattle and sheep. They have increased in numbers. We have added 1 million cattle and an extra 1.5 million sheep in the past five years and we cannot feed them. Has the Minister done research on the optimal number? What should our herd size be?
Agriculture, as our largest indigenous industry, plays a key role in the economy and it is important that we ensure the continued development of our agrifood sector. Food Wise 2025 sets out a cohesive, strategic plan for the sustainable future growth and development of the sector, with sustainability as a core pillar of the strategy, which I advise the Deputy to read. The recently published Teagasc report, An Analysis of Abatement Potential of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Irish Agriculture 2021-2030, highlights the potential for greenhouse gas abatement to limit the emissions from the agriculture, forest and land use sectors over the period 2021 to 2030 and outlines the types of abatement options available. My officials are actively engaged in reviewing these options.
A 2013 report by Teagasc concluded that there was an excess of grass to feed livestock under present numbers. Meeting the increasing demand for grass supply, responding to increases in livestock numbers, will require increased levels of soil fertility and grassland management coupled with increased levels of grass utilisation. One of the key early findings emerging from the analyses of data captured in PastureBase Ireland indicates that many farms have the potential to increase their grass growth. If soil fertility and grazing management can be improved, farms are capable of increasing grass production.
My Department and its agencies, Teagasc and Bord Bia, have a strong focus on improving grassland and nutrient management with measures such as Grass10; nutrient management planning, NMP, online; and the pasture profit index in place. My Department and its agencies also have a strong focus on improving the efficiency and sustainability of farming and have invested heavily in a number of schemes and measures such as the Origin Green initiative, the beef data and genomics programme and the green, low-carbon, agri-environment scheme, known as GLAS. Our knowledge transfer programmes are key to bringing the latest innovative sustainability research and practices direct to farmers. We are also actively promoting the adoption of technologies, for example, the funding of low emission slurry spreading equipment under targeted agricultural modernisation schemes, TAMS, and research findings, for example, soil fertility and other mitigation actions to promote efficiency and sustainability.
During the fodder crisis in 2012-2013 a report was commissioned by Stop Climate Chaos which was carried out by Dr. Stephen Flood from the National University of Ireland Maynooth. He set out the research, which is clear. The research projected that there would be a 17% increase in winter rainfall and a 25% decrease in summer rainfall, particularly in the south east and on its coast, because of climate change. It suggested that would have a potential cost of €2 billion for the agriculture industry. That would dwarf the €1.5 billion gain expected from Harvest 2020, which led into Food Wise 2025. That is what is happening. It is not a surprise and it is not unexpected; it is exactly what the scientists said would occur. We have to react to it for climate emissions reasons, but also for the sake of farming. We have been whipping farmers towards every greater numbers, ever more intense practices and ever larger herds and then this summer we find, as various Deputies have said, that the livestock are eating the first crop of silage. Please God there will be a second crop but at the moment one would not bet on it. What are they going to do in the autumn and winter? They are the patsies. They are the guys and women who are at the sharp end in respect of this processing industry. The likes of Larry Goodman are not going to have a hard winter, but the guys on the front line who lean on this and who are paying for everything are the ones getting caught out in this squeeze. We should change plan and change strategy for the sake of Irish farmers.
Some of the Deputy's message is important, but some of his lack of knowledge or willful ignorance of the initiatives we are taking is offensive to the farming community generally. He should bear in mind that the Paris Accord says we should meet our climate change objectives without compromising food production. What is the point in dismantling a carbon-efficient system of food production only to replace it with production which is not as carbon-efficient in other countries? The Deputy needs to be aware of how efficient our production is per unit of output relative to our competitors. People will source protein one place or another and it is best that they source it from the people who are most efficient. Even the Paris Accord, to which we ascribe and whose targets we are legally obliged to achieve, recognises that.
In the context of fodder crises, it is important that we do not talk ourselves into a situation in which the current difficulties we face are used against us in the international marketplace. In the context of the crisis in spring, which we dealt with, we imported the equivalent of eight hours' feed for a bovine population of 7 million. We have difficulties but they are not issues of national crisis. We need to be careful not to talk ourselves into a situation in which we impose unnecessary damage on the sector. I beg the indulgence of the Chair to continue on this matter. We are spending huge amounts. I heard the Deputy talking about hedgerows in this Chamber a couple of nights ago. We are spending huge amounts - hundreds of millions of euro - under GLAS on planting thousands upon thousands of hectares of new hedgerows, thereby increasing biodiversity and improving water quality. We are improving the genetic merit of our beef herd by investing more than €250 million in ensuring herd fertility and that cattle are slaughtered earlier so they have a lower carbon footprint. That will yield a dividend over time. It is offensive to say that Origin Green is fake news, which I heard the Deputy say at our CAP consultation process. It was a missed opportunity for him to engage in a more detailed way on the issues when he attended the consultation. We have things that we can take from the Deputy's copybook. They are things we are obliged to do anyway.
We will engage in a detailed and respectful debate. We have to do this. It is important that we get the environmental and agricultural interests together. I believe we are allies, as I said at the conference the Minister held in Newbridge last week. However, there are certain things we stand by and I stand by John Sweeney when he says the 2.5 million additional animals have introduced to the country since Dr. Stephen Flood wrote his report are creating emissions that will be there for generations.
It is a question of the quantity released. Every country will face this issue. It is not as if we will face a challenge while Brazil, Mexico and so on will not. They will face a similar challenge. We must achieve net real reductions.
As to solutions, I believe in diversification. We only imported eight hours' worth of fodder in the most recent crisis but we are importing a large volume of soya and other meal. Our cattle are not completely grass fed. According to the statistics, we are significantly dependent on food imports to feed ourselves. One solution for Irish agriculture is to give people in that sector a much better price for meeting some of our food needs by diversifying our agricultural system as opposed to being overdependent on intensive cattle farming in particular, which is damaging our water supplies and is methane intensive. Nor can we feed our cattle. This triple whammy should form part of the argument.
A final response from the Minister, please.
To everyone who says there is no problem and we can feed our cattle-----
There has to be some order in the House. A final response, please.
My apologies. It is patent that we cannot feed our cattle.
It is important to base this debate on facts. Our bovine herd number has increased by approximately 300,000. The Deputy's figures are not correct.
I am using the figures from Dr. Flood's paper on-----
Deputy, I have told you to allow the Minister to respond.
Since the abolition of quotas, our herd number has increased by 300,000. I will revert to the Deputy with the specific details but I would suggest that our herd number has been larger previously than it is today. It is important that we base our debate on facts.
Agreed.
We have things we need to do. Teagasc's recent work has been important in terms of building a collaborative approach to a significant challenge. What is the purpose of dismantling or denigrating an industry that is among the most carbon efficient? We need to do more, and will do so, across all sectors, including marine, dairy and beef. However, to denigrate the industry's efforts and not to acknowledge what has been achieved in facing up to significant challenges is seen by the industry as hectoring and lecturing rather than an attempt to work with it.
May I make a quick response to that?
No, there is no-----
That was very personal.
I am sorry, but the Deputy has had two questions. I am here to implement the rules, and I will-----
We will not hector or lecture our farmers. We will support them.
I remind Members that we have only dealt with five questions. That is a bad record. Perhaps I am to blame, so I will ensure that Members only have their two and one-minute slots from now on, as the case may be.
