Nitrates rules will cause problems for farmers

IRELAND - Nitrates regulations will inflict serious damage on productive farming in Ireland without any scientific or environmental justification and for no quantifiable gain, the IFA has said.

According to outgoing president, John Dillon, regulations impose restrictions on nitrogen and phosphorus usage by farmers based on a deliberately biased interpretation of Teagasc fertiliser recommendations which will damage pig and poultry producers, and undermine the capacity of other farmers to use organic fertilizers in substitution for chemical sources.

“The maximum limits imposed in the regulations will also severely limit grassland farmers from exploiting their key competitive advantage of maximizing production from grass,” he added.

“Teagasc’s position as the independent research authority on agricultural practices has been gravely damaged, and the authority must stand up publicly against the prejudiced and unscientific interpretation of their advice, and political bullying to legitimise this flawed regulation of farmers,” the IFA official said.

“Both Minister Roche and Minister Coughlan have responsibility to implement solutions to ensure productive farming survives under this excessive and unscientific regulation,” he added.

Mr Dillon warned that a derogation of 250 kg per hectare must be secured to allow farmers farm competitively and to meet their fertilizer needs with locally available pig and poultry manure.

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Source: The Kingdom

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