Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard believes that the possibility of a dairy reduction scheme being put in place is unlikely in the short-term.

“I’m not confident that there will be a reduction scheme. I think potentially it could come in the next 24 to 48 months, but at the moment, I wouldn’t bet my house on it,” Senator Lombard told the Irish Farmers Journal at a Fine Gael agriculture event in Bantry on Friday evening.

“The Nitrates Action Plan and how that plays out on whether or not we lose the derogation could be a factor in that.”

The Oireachtas Agriculture Committee vice chair cautioned that changes in the Nitrates Action Plan, in particular the lowering of the upper limit on organic nitrogen from 250kg N/ha to 220kg N/ha, could put pressure on areas that are highly stocked.

“If the derogation goes from 250kg N/ha to 220kg N/ha, it will be a huge issue. It could effectively be a minor cull of the dairy [industry] because if you’re to have that level of nitrates reduction, you’re effectively depopulating the herd by a certain percentage.”

He told the crowd at the Rural Roadmap for 2030 event that there are positive measures that farmers are doing, but they don’t seem to be getting enough credit for them.

“The catchment scheme is showing how good the water quality is,” he said.

“Farmers have made an awful lot of progress in a short space of time and they’re not getting credit for it.

“The Timoleague catchment figures from last year seem really positive and they’re not being taken into consideration.”

Coillte deal

The Senator also expressed concerns regarding Coillte’s plans to partner with private UK investment fund Gresham House.

“I think the Coillte deal is really significant and it’s very unfortunate in so many ways. I’m aware the minister proposes to meet Coillte in the next week to discuss this issue. That’s a positive step.

“I also realise that the minister can’t intervene directly in the internal affairs of Coillte, but there has to be leverage put on Coillte.

“What they propose to do could drive land prices across the State through the roof, because there’s now the potential of a Government entity putting a floor on the price of land and driving the price in many places,” Senator Lombard concluded.