Extra rules for tillage farmers look inevitable under the new CAP, the Department of Agriculture has warned.

A review is under way of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs) and Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) that apply to farmers’ basic payments, Niall Ryan of the Department of Agriculture told the Irish Grain Growers’ Group (IFFG) webinar on Tuesday night.

[...] the Department is looking at the EPA’s critical source areas for phosphorus and examining if action needs to be taken

It is now likely that any breaches to the Sustainable Use Directive will result in a hit to the future BPS, rather than a fixed penalty notice according to Ryan.

He also noted that an increase to buffer strip size along watercourses may be introduced, especially where catch crops are being grazed. He added that the Department is looking at the EPA’s critical source areas for phosphorus and examining if action needs to be taken.

Ploughing

The Department official also noted: “We’re going to have to review that ploughing date”, while commenting that it may not be changed but the 1 December date is up for review.

On the subject of ploughing, he commented that soils high in organic matter may no longer be allowed to be ploughed.

High-carbon soils are generally defined as those with soil carbon levels of 20%, often limited to peat soils where very little tillage takes place.

Some tillage farmers probably are operating on high organic matter soils. Those tillage farmers may be asked to stop ploughing

Ryan explained that the Department will have to decide what defines a peak parcel for carbon and will most likely use the soil organic matter map prepared by the EPA and Teagasc to identify high carbon soils.

“There probably will be some restrictions put in around ploughing these soils.

“There’s not that much of this in tillage in the country. Some tillage farmers probably are operating on high organic matter soils. Those tillage farmers may be asked to stop ploughing,” he said.

Tillage farmers need to stand up for sector

Reacting to IGGG chair Bobby Miller’s query on whether tillage farms will be subject to the same fertiliser reduction targets as grassland farms, even though tillage farms use nitrogen much more efficiently than grassland farms, Ryan gave no indication that this would be the case.

He urged tillage farmers to submit their views to consultations on nitrates, environmental schemes and the soils strategy.

He said that tillage farmers needed to stand up and represent their sector and play a role in policy and strategy formation.