The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) said the country's Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine Industries should implement the Sustainable Development Program to support farmers in their environmental activities.
The association said this should be the “central place” in the department’s view of nitrate reduction.
Joe Healy, president of IFA, said nitrate analysis is "a real opportunity to support the sustainable development of a group of farmers who contribute more than 900 million euros to agricultural products in every county in Ireland."
The IFA insists that these farmers "should not be threatened by further rules, legislation or changes in derogations."
“Instead, the government should offer a well-funded and reliable Sustainable Development Program (SDP) for the sector,” the association said in a statement.
According to Thomas Cooney, Chairman of the IFA Environment, the following measures should be implemented:
- Implementation of Teagasc “Climate Roadmap”;
- Increased funding and removal of VAT on equipment for spreading liquid manure;
- Maintaining the wider use of protected urea, lime, suspension additives and soil aeration technologies;
- Support anaerobic digestion and renewable energy on the farm;
- Full recognition of carbon emissions from forests, permanent pastures and hedges;
- Greater use of organic fertilizers on farms.
