Irish farmers gathered in Kilkenny last Friday to demonstrate against changes to Ireland’s nitrate derogation.
The protest, called “Farmer’s Futures Matter” was held at Cillín Hill outside Kilkenny city where a number of IFA representatives joined the farmers.
Last week's protest in Bandon is now followed last night in Kilkenny with a large farmer turnout in the rain stating "Farmers Future Matters"
Momentum is gathering as Irish Farmers want to retain their stocking levels and viability into the future#NoFarmersNoFood#WarOnFarming pic.twitter.com/YIM1HJEwtH— Irish Farmers,Food, Family & Faith ( Telegram ) (@IreFarmers) July 22, 2023
This comes after approximately 2,000 farmers attended a similar gathering in Cork on the 13th of July as concerns mount over plans to potentially cut EU derogations, the system under which farms are permitted to spread livestock manure and slurry containing specific levels of nitrogen per hectare.
Some scenes from last might in Bandon Co.Cork where over 2000 farmers gathered.they are looking for nitrates deregation to remain and protesting the introduction of severe reduction in the national herd#FarmersProtest #NoFarmersNoFood pic.twitter.com/eh3HySD7g0
— Irish Farmers,Food, Family & Faith ( Telegram ) (@IreFarmers) July 14, 2023
The protest in Kilkenny drew approximately 600 farmers with about 50 tractors being driven around in laps before speeches were heard.
Kilkenny IFP chairman Jim Mullhall said that the derogation charges will not only affect dairy farming but agriculture in general.
“There’s a divide there between the sectors and even within the [dairy farming] sector,” he said, adding that part of the divide was “big versus small”.
Adding that the change to derogation has the potential to cause “huge issues to us farmers and productive farmers” he said it would have a negative impact on those “dependent on farming for a living,”
IFA Kildare chair Thomas O’Connor said that he had invested in ‘efficiency’, ‘farm safety’, and for ‘environmental reasons’, adding that he had to be able to produce food “to make money”.
Blasting the actions of the Minister for Agriculture he said, “All I can see from this minister is cuts and bureaucracy blocking me from doing that,”
IFA Kildare chair Thomas O’Connor sets out the @IFAmedia message at #Kilkenny ‘Farmer’s Futures Matter’ protest. Calls on @McConalogue & @LeoVaradkar to stop giving “lip service” to ag sector @farmersjournal @Jimmulh pic.twitter.com/cx3zNjWTvF
— Barry Murphy (@BarryMurphyAg) July 21, 2023
Speaking on the issue last month president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Pat McCormack, said it was “frustrating” that the industry was being singled out.
“We’re the one industry with a significant roadmap, and, to be quite honest with you, our herd isn’t any larger than it was 25 to 30 years ago,” he said. “Can the same be said for the transport industry, can the same be said for the aviation industry?”
He said that any possible cut “needs to be a voluntary scheme,” and that this was “absolutely critical.”
At @IFAmedia protest, young #Kilkenny farmer @dfogarty6 outlines the challenges facing young farmers & how current @agriculture_ie policy is not bringing on the next generation @farmersjournal @Jimmulh pic.twitter.com/tBTGm7nCyp
— Barry Murphy (@BarryMurphyAg) July 21, 2023