Over 200 dairy farmers gathered today (Friday, May 10) for a water quality event hosted by Lakeland Dairies on the Fitzpatrick family farm in Lisryan, Granard, Co. Longford.
The Lakeland Dairies event – Farming for a Better Future: Protecting our Waters highlighted the steps that derogation farmers are taking to enhance and protect the quality of Irish waterways.
Speakers at the event included members of Lakeland Dairies’ technical and advisory teams.
There were also representatives present from the Department of Agriculture’s water quality division, Dr. Leanne Roche; Teagasc’s Agricultural Catchment Programme, Eddie Burgess; Head of dairy knowledge transfer with Teagasc, Dr. Joe Patton.
The Fitzpatrick family farm previously won the Lakeland Dairies Milk Quality Award, and also represented the co-op at the Kerrygold or National Dairy Council (NDC) Quality Milk Awards.
In order to adapt to improving water quality, Fitzpatrick said he applies any slurry using a dribble bar and that some 80% of slurry is applied in spring.
“Anywhere that is at risk of leeching, we have planted hedges along there, we have a bridgeway or two here on the farm, we widened the roadways crossing the bridge.
“We’ve made more of a slope crossing that any run off going down the passway is being put further away from any drains that are here,” Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick said there are certain farmers that have more to do than other farmers, so there may be a need for extra support.
Chair of Lakeland Dairies, Niall Matthews said that across the catchment area in the county “commitment is unwavering”.
Water quality
He said that Lakeland Dairies is “leaving no stone unturned” to improve water quality and retain the derogation.
Matthews said that the co-op has committed five full-time positions to the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP), and has co-funded research projects focusing on nutrient efficiency and sustainable farming practice.
“The entire foundation of our world-class dairy industry is built on protecting and enhancing our water quality.
“We must all be proactive, work collectively towards water quality targets, and at the same time highlight a realistic timeline required to see our efforts deliver results,” Matthews said.
“There is a fear there that dairying has been the back bone of the rural economy, but there is a fear that the next generation will walk away from milking cows and they will end up milking the schemes instead,” Matthews said.