Latest news with #NitratesDirective
RTÉ News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Government told to conserve sites or species to retain nitrates derogation
The European Commission has told the Government that in order for Ireland to retain a nitrates derogation for farmers from next year it must demonstrate efforts to conserve designated sites or species under the EU's Habitats Directive. Previously the Commission has traditionally just sought evidence of progress in relation to water quality, however, with Ireland now the only country left in the EU seeking a nitrates derogation the criteria have been expanded. It is understood the Commission contacted the Government in recent weeks about the change, with Irish officials now working on an updated plan, which is expected to be submitted to the EU in the middle of July. Under the Nitrates Directive, farmers have to ensure that the total amount of nitrogen from organic manure applied to their land does not exceed 170kg per hectare per year. The directive aims to reduce water pollution caused by nitrates used in agriculture, and EU member states are required to monitor water quality and identify areas that drain into polluted waters or are at risk of pollution. Due to the country's unique grass-fed farming model, Ireland has a derogation allowing use of up to 250kg for some farmers but it expires at the end of the year, with the EU set to vote on new limits for 2026-2029. The EU is reportedly putting pressure on Ireland to get its plan in as quickly as possible so that it can be considered ahead of negotiations and a vote later in the year. Under the Habitats Directive any project likely to have a significant effect on a designated site or species must be subject to assessment. For Irish farmers seeking a derogation, this would mean that if they are grazing cattle near a Natura 2000 site the area would need to assessed before it was granted. Natura 2000 is an EU network of 27,000 core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, as well as some rare natural habitat types, which are protected in their own right. Based on correspondence from the European Commission - and legal advice to the Government - to secure the next nitrates derogation Ireland will have to demonstrate compliance with the Habitats Directive when granting individual farmers a derogation. Plans for this assessment process include monitoring and studying 46 catchment areas (with an average catchment size of 150,000 hectares) across the country. These sites would be assessed by experts, including ecologists, before a derogation is granted. Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said that "in developing such a plan, I am committed to engagement and have held a series of stakeholder meetings with that in mind". "My officials have also engaged with the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group where the matter was discussed this morning," he said. "It is important stakeholders are aware of the issues emerging from the discussions and how Ireland is working to fulfil its legal requirements and provide the Commission with the assurances it needs to justify granting our next derogation." If Ireland's nitrates derogation is lowered, farmers would have to take measures such as culling cows, exporting slurry, or acquiring more land to abide by lower limits.
Irish Independent
01-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘We urgently need to refocus on cost control at farm level'
This is according to Teagasc's Laurence Shalloo, who was speaking ahead of tomorrow's Moorepark Open Day. Shalloo – who heads Teagasc's Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Programme – said an analysis of CSO data shows a steep rise in agricultural input prices between 2020 and 2024. 'Since 2022, input price indices are showing reductions in costs, but input costs in 2024 were still approximately 35pc higher than 2020,' he will say. While many of the inflationary pressures at farm level were driven by external shocks – including the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine — Shalloo will say these were compounded by an increase in the use of purchased concentrate feed on farms. National Farm Survey data published last week shows that purchased concentrate expenditure on dairy farms typically totalled €61,517 in 2024. While this was actually a 5pc decrease relative to 2023 due to a fall in feed prices, feed volumes averaged 1,357kg per dairy cow in 2024, an increase compared to 2023. Costs per unit of milk have increased by over 50pc between 2020 and 2024, while only moderate increases in costs were observed over the previous 10 years 'Costs per unit of milk have increased by over 50pc between 2020 and 2024, while only moderate increases in costs were observed over the previous 10 years,' Shalloo will state. 'These inflationary pressures, compounded by weather-related pressures in 2023 and 2024, and a loss of focus on pasture management and utilisation, have resulted in significant cost pressures at farm level – which are particularly evident when milk price is reduced, such as in 2023. 'There is an urgent requirement to refocus on cost control at farm level.' Shalloo will highlight that grass silage and concentrate feed are three and four times more expensive, respectively, than grazed grass – making it essential for farmers to maximise the proportion of grazed grass in the dairy cow's diet to drive profitability. ADVERTISEMENT 'Key to this process is increasing pasture utilisation per hectare and reducing the proportion of bought-in feed in the diet of dairy cows,' he will say. On the environmental front, Shalloo will point to positive recent data from the EPA on water quality and emissions, noting that improvements are already being seen. He attributes these to policy changes under the Nitrates Directive, reduced fertiliser nitrogen use on farms, a greater focus on nutrient use efficiency, and improved weather and nutrient management at farm level. Notably, Shalloo will reveal that a forthcoming Teagasc report shows the average dairy cow in Ireland produces approximately 20pc more manure per week while housed than previously assumed. This, he says, will require additional investment in manure storage infrastructure on many farms, but could also unlock more value from nutrients in slurry.
Agriland
08-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Sustainable gains: Clover success for Co. Limerick dairy farmer
Irish livestock farming is evolving and farmers are embracing solutions to drive both profitability and sustainability. Niall Moloney is a multi-award-winning dairy farmer working alongside his father, Gerry, in Crecora, Co. Limerick. The 2018 Teagasc Young Grassland Farmer of the Year, Niall was then crowned Germinal Responsible Grassland Manager of the Year at the 2023 National Dairy Awards after showcasing his talent for sustainable dairy farming. Having been farming on almost 97ha over three blocks, Niall and his father acquired an additional 15ha to bring the total area farmed to 112ha over four blocks. By September 2024, they had grown their herd to 170 cows on a 51ha platform. Understanding soil fertility is foundational For Niall, understanding and nurturing soil fertility is crucial. He explained: 'We soil test every year, that's non-negotiable. Over the years, soil fertility will drop in some fields where you don't expect it to, and you can react a lot quicker and get those fields back to optimising growing grass again. 'I even pick grasses for different types of soil in different places on the farm,' he explains. This meticulous approach ensures that every paddock is performing at its best, laying the groundwork for producing quality grass and forage. Niall estimates that 60% of the farm is on dry, free-draining soil, while the remainder is on heavier, more peaty soils. Clover supports self-sufficiency Faced with increasing input costs and soaring fertiliser prices, and the uncertainties around the Nitrates Directive derogation, Niall turned to Germinal's Climate Smart clover mixtures to help him reduce chemical inputs and boost sustainability, while maintaining output and performance. 'We're trying to use clover as much as we can to reduce chemical nitrogen inputs, and it does work. 'In the past, when spreading first-cut silage, you were using an awful lot of fertiliser. With red clover silage, we've pretty much erased that. 'The results speak for themselves. You notice it straight away at the end of the year, especially when fertiliser was rising to €1,000 per tonne,' Niall said. Germinal's technical director, Dr. Mary McEvoy, highlights the impact: 'Clover has a lot to offer. We can maintain our improved quality of the feed, but the real win is the ability of clover to fix nitrogen, reducing the need we have for nitrogen fertiliser. 'The Department of Agriculture in Ireland continues to prioritise reducing emissions and using clover on farms. 'Farmers are responding and we are seeing a major uptake in the number of mixtures we are being asked for with a higher clover content compared to the past.' As part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Red Clover Silage Measure, Niall sowed a Germinal mixture across 16ac in 2022. Seeing the results, Niall sowed an additional 30ac in 2023. In a good year, he can produce 15t/ha of red clover silage. When reseeding with a red clover mixture, Niall aims for early April to get a quicker turnaround time. He completes two runs with the disc and uses a power harrow with a seedbox for sowing. Sustainable grassland tips When discussing the concept of performance plus sustainability, Niall explains that both are required if farmers are to be profitable and climate smart. Here's what Niall is doing to reduce emissions on-farm: Start from the ground up and soil test every year. Maintain correct soil pH with a liming programme. Only apply fertilisers where they are needed. Reseed underperforming fields with clover to maximise grass growth. Cut back on nitrogen fertiliser once clover is established, and particularly when temperatures rise and clovers are fixing nitrogen. Low emission slurry spreading – once permitted, get slurry out early under the right ground conditions. Use protected urea for an early top dressing of nitrogen. Performance plus sustainability Germinal has just launched five new Climate Smart seed mixture ranges designed to deliver on performance and sustainability for Irish grassland farmers. Niall is using Germinal's Red Clover Silage mixture from the Climate Smart RESTORE range. Ready to take control of your grass and forage production?
