Macra has stated that new rules under CAP which require a grass lie-back beside a forage crop are unworkable.

The young farmers' group said that it is ironic that green cover which is good enough to protect soil under nitrates rules is now not good enough to protect soil under conditionality rules.

“We consider the new rules on conditionality to be entirely unworkable for both specialist tillage and mixed livestock farmers,” Macra said.

“The sowing of a four- to five-month grass forage equivalent area for the grazing of catch crops will add significant cost to the grazing of these crops, essentially ensuring the practice is financially unviable, [at] a time when the Government should be encouraging collaboration between tillage and livestock farmers.

“It is ironic that in one sense we have requirements to establish green cover via volunteers immediately after harvest to protect soils for nitrates, but that green cover is now not good enough to protect soils under GAEC [Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition] for catch crops.”

The group said that rules like this were not helpful in trying to increase the tillage area.

“This is another step in the wrong direction by the Government when they should be promoting the exchange of nutrients between sectors to increase the tillage area in Ireland,” the statement concluded.

Department needs to review the situation

The Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) also hit out at the new rules and called on the Department and relevant ministers to review the situation.

“We cannot understand the logic of the Department of Agriculture of late when it comes to livestock and tillage land,” the IGGG stated.

“The most efficient way to handle organic manures is to have livestock on tillage farms over winter, whether it's available livestock housing on site or grazing livestock on dedicated catch crops when conditions suit.

“This is where we believe the Department are taking backwards steps. This, in the face of the nitrates issue affecting tillage farmers directly in the land leasing market.”

See the IGGG’s full statement ">here.