| IFA President John Bryan visited a number of farms in Cavan and Monaghan and met with pig, poultry and dairy producers in the Kilmore Hotel in Cavan to discuss their growing concerns in relation to the ongoing review of the Nitrates Regulations. Mr Bryan said ‘I am using this opportunity to highlight the serious job losses that will occur in the region should the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith and his Government colleagues fail to address the concerns of pig and poultry producers in the Nitrates Review. Pig and poultry producers in the Cavan/Monaghan region employ hundreds of people directly and indirectly and it is critical for the area that the Nitrates Review does not impact negatively on their business. The IFA President has welcomed the fact that "Furthermore t During this visit Chairman of Lakeland Dairies, Pádraig Young said, "The Co-op processes over one billion litres of milk each year and provides essential services and employment to a catchment area of over fifteen counties in the north east. This review of the nitrates regulation must be used to introduce flexibility and improve competitiveness and allow the sector deliver its full potential." "The 650 farmers from the counties within the Lakeland Dairies catchment who currently avail of the nitrates derogation are key to delivering future growth in the industry and are dependent on the continuation of the derogation. In addition greater flexibility is required to replace this strict slurry spreading farming by date regime."the Director of Teagasc Professor Gerry Boyle publicly acknowledged the devastating economic impact the review could have on these sectors. "The delivery of an economically feasible nitrates action plan is vital if the region is to deliver the full growth potential identified in the Government’s strategy for the sector, Food Harvest 2020," he concluded. he expert working group must accept that manure of farmed animals is an animal by-product under European and Irish legislation, in particular EC Regulation No. 1774/2002, and is excluded from the scope of the directive on waste. This matter should be taken into account in the revisiting of the nitrates regulations. The placing of animal manures on the market to sell or supply for use for the benefit of neighbouring farmers in fertilising farmland is authorised under EC Regulation No. 1774/2002. It is essential that this fact is recognised by both the Department of Environment and the EPA in order to avoid double regulation and unnecessary costs. |
Friday, 10 September 2010 10:42