The farmers’ friend?

The Limerick-based organisation had a stellar cast of political attendees, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, and Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan. While the Taoiseach and agriculture minister both – unsurprisingly – promised attendees they would safeguard the viability of farming during a time of change, it was the anticipation of how Minister Ryan would be received that created most interest. In the end, Minister Ryan gave little cause for criticism and insisted that neither he nor members of his Green Party have any anti-farming agenda.

Boosting farmers’ importance

If a little overblown, Minister Ryan’s eulogy on the importance of farmers and agriculture was certainly emphatic: “I’m convinced the future is one in which farmers will be the frontline heroes in the environmental change we need to make. You have the best knowledge of our land, and you see climate change happening more than anyone else, and we need to pay farmers for what you can deliver for us,” he said. He continued: “That includes good food, as well as helping us improve our water quality, flood protection and the restoration of nature. We must get a new generation into farming and forestry to do this job we have ahead in protecting the natural systems and, in doing that, protecting farming in the future.”

Adopting the green agenda

Addressing a question around farmer frustration at ongoing criticism that is directed at the sector and at farmers, Minister Ryan expressed understanding: “Particularly because costs have gone up in fertiliser and energy and all the other inputs,” he said. “We need to help the farming community; I don’t see farmers changing their core business. We want and need really good quality food coming from our farming sector. That’s not going to change and while we can make money from energy and a range of other initiatives on our farms, the core business is still the same.
“What I see and hear is that those co-operatives that work with farmers realise that to get the best price for farm produce, you must be green. Eighty per cent of our food produce is exported and customers in those markets will buy our produce because we have an advantage. We do a form of farming here that is family based, is more sustainable, and that is respectful of the natural systems we are working with. So, I don’t want that to change. But we have to do it in a way that is green. I believe that will actually be lower cost, including reductions in fertiliser costs. Some of the new practices, including mixed sward, are better for farming.”

No split

The Green minister was having nothing to do with the so-called urban/rural divide: “Some people love this urban versus rural division or the environment versus rural Ireland. I don’t buy it. I don’t believe it’s true. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did a major survey showing that the vast majority of Irish people want us all to play our part. There was no difference in attitude between urban or rural, between young or old. We cannot divide on this because we all need to work together to devise clever solutions that are good for farming and good for the environment.”

The green priority

Minister Ryan was definitive on the thorny nitrates-reduction issue: “The priority is water-quality improvement. That’s the foundation of this reputation we need to restore and protect, of having a system of farming and of land management that protects our water. Everyone agrees on that. It is not a divisive issue. That is something the European Commission also demands. It isn’t all down to farming. We need to improve our sewage management systems, our forestry, and a range of other areas. It ill-serves farming if we think this can be easily ignored. In the end, I think we can adapt and farm in a way that is good for our natural systems. In fact, I think we have an advantage.

“The designation of Irish grass-fed beef is an example. We have a unique cattle-production system, and we should build on that strength, on that advantage. We can do that in ways that protect our water systems, including the use of smart technologies such as low emission slurry spreading, protected urea, all these technological advances that make it possible for us to make the switch towards protecting our waters. That’s farming skill and knowledge and expertise. I see that working with nature in this way is going to be good for farming.”
When asked about the purpose of his attendance at the ICMSA AGM, the minister had this to say: “I’m here to listen. We have a lot of engagement to do around land use, for instance; how emissions from land use work are very complex. How do our grasslands or peat systems or forestry work? Science changes and we need to be flexible and be willing to listen, and engage and work with each other.”

LULUCF

There is, as was pointed out to Minister Ryan, no plan in place for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF). His answer was nuanced: “The land use sectoral target is difficult. The science around forestry alone is now different than previously thought. That baseline of land use emissions keeps changing.  We will, subject to government approval, treat land use in a slightly different way, recognising that the baseline keeps moving. That’s why we need to be flexible and engage with each other in an open and honest way. This is complicated and we need to get it right. Land use will play its part as will every sector but not in a manner that is any worse than any other sector. The Climate Action Plan will be published before the end of the year and there will be a period of engagement to see what it involves, not only for agriculture but across transport, energy and other sectors.”

Income options

Minister Ryan highlighted what he saw as alternative income options on top of mainstream farming: “We are witnessing a global revolution in solar power and that should provide complementary income for farmers. We will introduce a system before the end of the year whereby up to 5MW of renewable power could be developed without recourse to an auction system. That will give a guaranteed price. Anaerobic digestion will be another income diversity option, with farmers producing grass as a feed input. Riparian areas up to two hectares should also be considered by farmers. We need to create financial incentives so that it is possible to raise a family while engaging in alternative as well as mainstream farming activities.”