Thousands of farmers protest against dictatorial EU nitrate derogation plans!

BANDON, Ireland (PNN) - July 14, 2023 - Thousands of farmers have taken to the streets of Bandon, County Cork, to protest dictatorial proposals to cut nitrate derogation levels. The rally, organized by the Irish Farmers Association, expressed concern that such a cut will have a detrimental impact on rural communities, incomes, and livelihoods.

Over 2,000 farmers attended the rally in the West Cork town on Thursday evening, as concerns mount over plans to potentially cut EU derogations, the system under which farms are permitted to spread livestock manure and slurry containing more than 170kg of nitrogen per hectare - up to a maximum of 250kg of nitrogen per hectare.

Attendees from across the industry joined the demonstration on foot and in streams of tractors and trucks to publicly communicate their concerns about how a decrease from a maximum stocking rate of 250kg of nitrogen per hectare on dairy farms, to 220kg would negatively impact on livelihoods in the area. Those in attendance made the case that nitrates derogation should remain as it is following the publication of a recent water quality report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified areas that could see the derogation fall from January 1, 2024.

Out of the 8,000 derogation farmers throughout the country, around 2,500 farmers are in Co. Cork, said Cork west chair of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Donal O’Donovan.

Despite most derogation farmers being in the dairy industry, there were a significant number of non-dairy farmers protesting in Cork yesterday, who say the cuts will also impact them.

O’Donovan said that derogation has to stay at 250kg N/ha/yr and there is no compromise.

“The message has to go straight and clear to the government, to our MEPs to take the message to Brussels because ultimately that’s where the decision making will be,” he said.

He also pointed to changes being made in some areas of the county, especially in the Timoleague catchment in West Cork, where many trials have been carried out and nitrate levels have “improved”.

The use of Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS), protected urea, and clover in swards boosted the overall efficiency on farms - and that there is less nitrate being leached, he said.

The Irish Farmers Alliance carried signs with the message, “Save our derogation” while supporters insisted that West Cork was saying a strong no to such cuts. Young children from farming families also took part in the rally - with one child pictured holding a sign that read “Today’s decision will affect my future”.

Independent Rural TD Michael Collins was among those in attendance at the protest. He said thousands had turned up at the Thursday night protest to “send a clear message” to politicians from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to “stop supporting” Green Minister Eamon Ryan - urging elected representatives to “stand up for their constituents”.

“It’s time to stop talking out of two sides of the same mouth,” he said.

Online, farmers also said they were protesting proposed cuts to Ireland’s national dairy herd in order to help the government reduce emissions from farming by a quarter by 2030.

Officials have laid out plans to cut the national dairy herd by 10% - translating to a cull of 65,000 cows a year for three years, sparking revolt from farmers and making international headlines.

Last month, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Pat McCormack, said it was “frustrating” that the industry was being singled out for dictatorial oppression.

“We’re the one industry with a significant roadmap, and to be quite honest with you, our herd isn’t any larger than it was 25 to 30 years ago,” he said. “Can the same be said for the transport industry, can the same be said for the aviation industry?”

He said that any possible cut “needs to be a voluntary scheme,” and that this was “absolutely critical”.