Five farmer meetings on the Department of Agriculture’s derogation review will take place over the next week.

The meetings, run by the IFA, all begin at 8pm and take place as follows:

  • 16 May: Riverside Park Hotel, Macroom.
  • 17 May: Horse and Jockey Hotel, Thurles.
  • 21 May: Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Carlow.
  • 22 May: Ardboyne Hotel, Navan.
  • 23 May: McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris.

    • While the number of farms in derogation has risen by just 20% since 2014, the area of land has risen by a third to 445,200ha in 2018.

    The average size of a farm in derogation is 65ha and the number of livestock units on a derogation farm averages 162, figures from the Department show. The nitrates derogation review proposes tougher regulations for farms stocked at over 130kg N/ha.

    Water quality, ammonia and biodiversity performance are all part of the discussion on Ireland’s derogation.

    Read more

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