Tipperary TD says nitrates derogation cut could force farmers into 'drastic changes'

Irish farmers who availed of a nitrates derogation, which permitted them to have an increased number of dairy and beef cows on their farms compared to other EU countries, may be forced to make drastic changes following news that Ireland has failed to meet an agreement to improve water quality, according to Tipperary TD Michael Lowry.

In a shock revelation last week, farmers may have no alternative other than to reduce their stock, increase the amount of land they have, or alternatively arrange for the removal of slurry from their farms. This obligation will be required in order to meet the new Nitrates rules that will come into effect from January 1, he said.

"This is a shock decision that will have a negative impact on many dairy enterprises across Tipperary. Many will question how and why a derogation can be abandoned with such short notice. Numerous young farmers have invested heavily in the understanding that production would be safeguarded," he said.

Deputy Lowry said that this was now a major environmental issue and financial headache for several farm households across Tipperary.

Up to now, under agreement with the Commission, Irish farmers had been permitted to produce 250kg of organic nitrogen, as opposed to farmers on average holding in other European countries who were restricted to 170kg. This was strictly on the proviso that the quality of the country’s water would improve. Ireland gave an undertaking to the European Commission to this effect when the terms of the nitrates derogation were being agreed.

However, this undertaking has not been met and the European Commission is sticking rigidly to the terms of the agreement, which means that the limit for Irish derogation farmers will now fall to 220kg per hectare.

The decision of the Commission is binding and, while Ireland has not been reduced to the 170kg limit in force on other European countries, the challenge now facing them is to retain the 220kg limit, which will remain in place until the end of the current Nitrates Agreement on 31 December 2025, said Deputy Lowry.