Heydon: Derogation is the 'difference between viability and non-viability'
The loss of derogation for a farmer with 80 or 85 cows who has to drop to 69 or 70 cows "is the difference between viability and non-viability," according to Minister Martin Heydon.
According to the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, there has been a sense in some people's minds that derogation is "about big farmers".
But Minister Heydon said this is simply not the case and the nitrates derogation is important "to our rural economy and our overall efforts towards sustainability in all its forms".
During a recent debate in the Seanad on the nitrates derogation the minister said that in order to "deliver environmental sustainability and improve our water quality, our farmers need to be economically sustainable".
Nitrates derogation
Ireland secured a nitrates derogation from the European Commission for the three years from 2026 to 2028, subject to a number of additional conditions.
These include that by the end of 2027, all derogation farmers must determine their nutrient balance using AgNav and undertake a grassland management training course.
Derogation farmers in the Slaney, Barrow, Nore and Munster Blackwater river catchments will also see a reduction in their chemical fertiliser allowance on grassland and a requirement for wider buffers or setbacks adjacent to water when applying chemical and organic fertilisers from January 1, 2028.
But according to Minister Heydon the level of support currently available to reduce agriculture's impact on water quality is "unprecedented".
Financial support
He said: “The government is providing financial support for farmers going beyond regulatory requirements to improve water quality,
“For example, the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership has a budget of €60 million, of which €50 million is ring-fenced for farmer payments to support targeted additional measures beyond regulatory requirements."
"The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) grant aid is supporting investment in low emission slurry spreading equipment and manure storage, with over €153 million paid to farm families since 2015 to support these investments.”
He also detailed that his department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, along with industry, are currently funding 60 Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme advisers to "provide tailored advice to individual farmers on water quality improvements".
Grass-based farming
Fundamentally according to Minister Heydon the derogation “allows us to maintain our grass-based system of farming, which is unique in an EU context”.
He said: “Given their capacity to grow grass, almost 50% of our dairy farmers are stocked above 170kg N/ha. If their stocking rates were curtailed below current limits, it would impact the viability of these farms.
“It would also impact non-derogation farmers as there would be increased demand for land.
“It is vital that we use the next three years wisely to drive the improvements we need in our water quality by maintaining and further building on the momentum that exists across the sector.
"Securing the derogation has given us the opportunity to do this. We must embrace this opportunity," the minister added.
He described the derogation as “a golden opportunity”.
“Compared to last year, the future is in our hands in relation to our ongoing efforts,” he said.
“My department will not be found wanting in meeting our requirements. There are no guarantees with regard to that future outcome.”
AgNav assessments
Separately the minister also gave an update on assessments completed on AgNav.
The online interactive digital platform, which launched in 2023, is a partnership between Teagasc, Bord Bia, and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).
According to Minister Heydon a total of 2,500 farmers have completed their AgNav assessments.
"Our aim is to publish all habitats assessments together in quarter one of 2028," he added.
