Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
767. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what supports will be provided for farmers negatively impacted by the new nitrates programme following the failure to secure a derogation from the EU Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40046/23]
View answerLast year Ireland secured a new Nitrates Derogation covering the period 2022-2025. When these discussions were taking place, largely in 2021, there had been increases in Ireland’s national herd and chemical nitrogen use combined with declines in water quality. As a result, the European Commission attached increased conditionality to Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation, including the requirement to carry out a two-year review of water quality.
The risks associated with this conditionality were communicated to the sector from March 2022.
In June of this year the Environment Protection Agency published their 2022 report on Nitrogen and Phosphorous concentrations in Irish waters. As required under Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation, that report includes an annex in relation to the two-year water quality review required as a condition of Ireland’s current Nitrates Derogation. It shows a significant area of the country has failed the Commission's two-year water quality review. In accordance with the Commission Decision, the maximum stocking rate for derogation farmers in these areas must reduce to 220kg N/ha from 2024.
Impacted farmers will have three options in response to the reduction in the maximum stocking rate - reducing livestock numbers, exporting slurry and/or acquiring more land.
Impacted farmers should select one or a combination of these options depending on their own personal circumstances. For example, some farmers may be able to export slurry to other farmers in their locality. In other cases, farmers may chose to outsource contract rearing of their replacement heifers or to reduce their drystock enterprise.
I have met Teagasc on the need to support farmers in dealing with this change as best suits their own personal circumstances. Indeed many farmers have engaged already with their advisor.
Impacted Farmers who have not already done so, should engage with an accredited agricultural advisor to consider their options if they may be impacted by this change.
