The IFA has called for increased targeted payments to be made to farmers in order to help them adapt to future climate challenges.

This was just one of a series of actions the IFA has called on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to introduce regarding the adaptation to climate challenges in the future.

In a detailed submission to the Department, the IFA believes that the introduction of targeted payments will support better agronomic practices and alternative breeding strategies.

Full recognition must be given to the farming and forestry sectors for the positive role they play in storing and sequestrating carbon, according to the farming organisation.

Other actions suggested by the IFA in the submission include:

A reduction in the greening compliance burden in the tillage sector and increased funding to allow for the expansion of the protein crop area eligible to receive the full coupled payment.
The extension of the scope of the CFRAMS flood analysis work, to cover all rural areas and farmlands.
The establishment of the long-awaited National Energy Forum to co-ordinate a coherent energy response to climate change, which maximises biomass and other renewable opportunities for the farming sector.
The enactment of changes regarding hedge cutting and gorse burning proposed in the Heritage Bill to reduce the risk of wildfires and deliver a better balance between good farming practices and environmental obligations.
The implementation of risk assessment and warning systems, to assist farmers and forest owners to minimise the risks to production, from extreme weather events.
To assist in better resource management, the new Nutrient Management Planning tool developed by Teagasc should be made available to farmers at no cost for a two-year period and on a least cost basis thereafter.

Despite Ireland being a world leader in sustainable food production, there is room for improvement, IFA Environment and Rural Affairs Chairman Thomas Cooney said.

“However more can be achieved and Government can make a real difference by implementing the measures proposed by IFA,” he said.