Press release
First meeting of the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group post-Commissioner Sinkevičius’ visit
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Agriculture Water Quality Working Group, this week held its first meeting since it met, Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries in November. In light of the Commissioner’s comments regarding the need for water quality to be at least stable for Ireland to secure another nitrates derogation, the broad stakeholder group recognised, and reconfirmed, the need for all parties across the agri-food sector to work together to improve water quality.
Building on their work this Summer, the Group has been tasked with bringing forward their proposals to improve water quality and strengthen Ireland’s ability to secure a nitrates derogation post-2025.
The group was presented with up-to-date research from Teagasc, including research reflecting the lower nutrient excretion rates for the young calf. If implemented, this will directly release the pressure to move calves off-farm next Spring. In addition, Teagasc research on the impact of reducing the crude protein content of concentrates fed to dairy cows as well as research on the nutrient content of slurry was also presented.
The Group agreed to consider the best ways to implement the findings of this Teagasc research which has the potential to give farmers a degree of flexibility in how they can manage the transition to lower derogation limits without impacting negatively on water quality. Teagasc are to carry out some further assessment in relation to these measures with the group meeting again next week to finalise their views.
This next meeting will further consider Teagasc’s findings, the outputs from the Nitrates Expert Group as well as its own suggested measures for the Interim Review of the Nitrates Action Programme.
Speaking after the meeting, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, welcomed the constructive meeting and said:
"The work of the Water Quality Working Group, which brings the industry together with a common aim of improving water quality, is vital to the future of our agricultural system. I am glad to see some of the recommendations of the group progressing following my request for these parameters to be explored fully by Teagasc.
"Our water quality is being impacted by numerous pressures. We need to see increased ambition across the farm sectors to achieve the water quality stabilisation and improvement Commissioner Sinkevičius referenced as vital to Ireland securing a Nitrates Derogation post-2025.
"The derogation as we know is hugely important to our farming system and its loss would have far reaching consequences across our farm system. The group are therefore charged with ensuring that across agriculture, loss of nutrients to water is minimised.”