The Agricultural Consultants’ Association (ACA) has called on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to allow farmers or their advisors 10 days to rectify errors in applications in regards to nitrates.
President of the ACA, Noel Feeney made the call today (Thursday, March 7) at the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) in the County Arms Hotel in Birr, Co. Offaly.
He said that simple errors, which have no fundamental effect on the farmers eligibility for that derogation, have seen farmers being excluded from derogation for two years, causing “unwarranted stress”.
“Whenever a derogation farmer steps out on to their yard in the morning, they have higher standards to achieve that many other farmers or people in society just to operate.
“They are supported to reach these high standards by our members and the strategic input we offer,” Feeney said.
He said he would like to see the “long-standing issue” addressed as part of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) Co-Ordination Group, as set out in the common agricultural policy (CAP) Strategic Plan.
Feeney also called for the department to provide funding for two nitrates specialists for within the ACA.
He said the specialists would act as the ACA representatives in discussions with all industry stakeholders on water quality programmes.
“The Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) needs to adapt urgently and embrace the ACA, our members and our farmer clients to assist in the programme at local level.
“The private sector and their client base must be included in a holistic approach to this water quality challenge, to ensure our sectoral targets can be achieved,” Feeney said.
Feeney said the confirmation that all 9,000 farmers who applied for tranche 2 of the Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) will be accepted is a “significant boost”.
He said overall that the ACA needs “greater government recognition” in order to reach environmental sustainability and climate mitigation targets.
“This is not just about the ACA. A level playing field for the benefit of farmers is the simple ask we have,” Feeney said.