Jessika Roswall is in the country to assess how Irish farmers are managing stocking rates and environmental rules, ahead of a crucial EU decision that could see limits tightened further.
The European Commissioner for the Environment is visiting a farm in Kildare today as part of key talks on the future of Ireland’s nitrates derogation.
Jessika Roswall is in the country to assess how Irish farmers are managing stocking rates and environmental rules, ahead of a crucial EU decision that could see limits tightened further.
The derogation allows some farms to keep more animals per hectare than standard EU regulations permit.
About 7,000 dairy farmers rely on this permission. Without it, many farms would have to cut cow numbers - which would mean less income.
Midlands–North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly says farmers need more time to adapt to any new requirements, such as extra slurry storage.
He said cutting the derogation now would place pressure on family farms and rural incomes.
“The Commissioner says she will be led by science in deciding if we hold onto the derogation or not but she must also realise we can’t just drop everyone off the cliff at the end of the year," Mullooly said.
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