The pilot programme located in the Castleisland catchment area is leading the way, involving 50 dedicated farmers who are taking proactive measures to protect and improve local water bodies.
The Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) is a €60m initiative launched to assist up to 15,000 farmers across Ireland in adopting practices that safeguard water quality.
The primary objective of the EIP is to address agricultural pressures on water quality, which, within the Kerry Agribusiness catchment area, are typically phosphorus and sediment loss risks.
This initiative builds on the success of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) and aims to further assist farmers to implement very targeted measures onfarm.
Kerry Agribusiness has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable farming practices among its milk suppliers for many years through participation in the ASSAP and, more recently, through incentivisation of dedicated water quality measures within the Evolve Sustainability Programme.
The Farming for Water EIP provides an excellent opportunity to extend these efforts further. The Castleisland catchment area, where the pilot programme is being conducted, has shown strong engagement from local farmers even before the EIP’s inception.
By participating in this project, farmers receive financial support to implement various water-protective measures, ensuring that their efforts are both environmentally and economically sustainable.
“The farmers around Castleisland have always been conscious about protecting water quality. This funding now allows them to be proactive in implementing new measures on their farms,” says Terry O’Mahony from Kerry Agribusiness.
Data-driven approach
To ensure the effectiveness of the measures, baseline data has been collected by the EIP catchment scientists. This includes detailed chemical and biological analysis to monitor nitrogen and phosphorus levels.
Terry O’Mahony, Kerry Agribusiness, Mike and Bernie O’Sullivan, and Caoilfhionn Dodd, Kerry Agribusiness, pictured during the construction of the willow bed on the O’Sullivan farm.
Weekly samples are taken to track the progress of the implemented measures, providing valuable insights into their impact on water quality.
Collaborative efforts and community spirit
The success of this project hinges not only on the collaborative efforts of Kerry Agribusiness, the water EIP team and the local dairy farmers, but also on action from the wider farming and business community and local authority.
“One of the key goals is to foster a sense of community among farmers, encouraging them to work together towards a common goal.
"If 95% of farmers in a catchment area collaborate, the impact on water quality will be far more significant than isolated efforts,” emphasises Sean McCarthy of Kerry Agribusiness.
The Farming for Water EIP incorporates a wide range of measures designed to address various sources of agricultural water pressures.
These measures are selected based on a thorough assessment of each farm’s specific conditions and needs. Practices being implemented include hedgerow establishment, small-scale wetland ponds, sediment traps and willow beds.
These measures, among others, receive significant funding by the project, providing farmers with the necessary resources to implement them effectively. The focus is on well exceeding any regulatory requirements to achieve substantial improvements in water quality.
Future prospects
The Farming for Water EIP pilot in Castleisland runs until 2027, but the vision extends beyond this timeframe.
Over the next few weeks, Kerry Agribusiness aims to expand the programme to the River Deel catchment, assisting the 140 milk suppliers in this area to implement impactful measures.
They are optimistic that over the months ahead, an opportunity for widespread engagement among milk suppliers will occur through expansion of the EIP funding rollout and further uptake of the Evolve measures.
As the pilot programme progresses, ongoing education and behavioural changes at farm level are crucial components.
By fostering a deep understanding of sustainable practices and their long-term benefits, the project aims to create a lasting impact on water quality and agricultural sustainability.
The Farming for Water EIP represents a significant step forward in sustainable agriculture and water quality management. Through the collaborative efforts of Kerry Agribusiness, the EIP team and farmers, such a project sets a powerful example for future initiatives.
To showcase the progress and share insights, participating farmers Mike and Bernie O’Sullivan will host a farm walk on 18 July.
The open day will allow other pilot farmers, Kerry milk suppliers and the general community to see first-hand the measures being implemented and their positive effects.
Mike highlighted the project's positive impact: “This is a great project aimed at protecting and improving the water quality of our local river and the key to it is that the funding is right. You have to have the funding in place and I must say it has been a very straightforward process for us, because the advisers have been so proactive.”
They have implemented various measures as part of the Farming for Water EIP.
On the day, attendees will see these and hear from Mike and industry experts as to why they selected these measures and what the potential benefits might be.
Speaking on one of the measures, Mike noted: “We have installed a willow bed to prevent grey water from clean yards entering the river. The willow trees will clean this water further, which gives me great confidence that I am doing my part to help water quality.”
The pilot programme located in the Castleisland catchment area is leading the way, involving 50 dedicated farmers who are taking proactive measures to protect and improve local water bodies.
The Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) is a €60m initiative launched to assist up to 15,000 farmers across Ireland in adopting practices that safeguard water quality.
The primary objective of the EIP is to address agricultural pressures on water quality, which, within the Kerry Agribusiness catchment area, are typically phosphorus and sediment loss risks.
This initiative builds on the success of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) and aims to further assist farmers to implement very targeted measures onfarm.
Kerry Agribusiness has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable farming practices among its milk suppliers for many years through participation in the ASSAP and, more recently, through incentivisation of dedicated water quality measures within the Evolve Sustainability Programme.
The Farming for Water EIP provides an excellent opportunity to extend these efforts further. The Castleisland catchment area, where the pilot programme is being conducted, has shown strong engagement from local farmers even before the EIP’s inception.
By participating in this project, farmers receive financial support to implement various water-protective measures, ensuring that their efforts are both environmentally and economically sustainable.
“The farmers around Castleisland have always been conscious about protecting water quality. This funding now allows them to be proactive in implementing new measures on their farms,” says Terry O’Mahony from Kerry Agribusiness.
Data-driven approach
To ensure the effectiveness of the measures, baseline data has been collected by the EIP catchment scientists. This includes detailed chemical and biological analysis to monitor nitrogen and phosphorus levels.
Terry O’Mahony, Kerry Agribusiness, Mike and Bernie O’Sullivan, and Caoilfhionn Dodd, Kerry Agribusiness, pictured during the construction of the willow bed on the O’Sullivan farm.
Weekly samples are taken to track the progress of the implemented measures, providing valuable insights into their impact on water quality.
Collaborative efforts and community spirit
The success of this project hinges not only on the collaborative efforts of Kerry Agribusiness, the water EIP team and the local dairy farmers, but also on action from the wider farming and business community and local authority.
“One of the key goals is to foster a sense of community among farmers, encouraging them to work together towards a common goal.
"If 95% of farmers in a catchment area collaborate, the impact on water quality will be far more significant than isolated efforts,” emphasises Sean McCarthy of Kerry Agribusiness.
The Farming for Water EIP incorporates a wide range of measures designed to address various sources of agricultural water pressures.
These measures are selected based on a thorough assessment of each farm’s specific conditions and needs. Practices being implemented include hedgerow establishment, small-scale wetland ponds, sediment traps and willow beds.
These measures, among others, receive significant funding by the project, providing farmers with the necessary resources to implement them effectively. The focus is on well exceeding any regulatory requirements to achieve substantial improvements in water quality.
Future prospects
The Farming for Water EIP pilot in Castleisland runs until 2027, but the vision extends beyond this timeframe.
Over the next few weeks, Kerry Agribusiness aims to expand the programme to the River Deel catchment, assisting the 140 milk suppliers in this area to implement impactful measures.
They are optimistic that over the months ahead, an opportunity for widespread engagement among milk suppliers will occur through expansion of the EIP funding rollout and further uptake of the Evolve measures.
As the pilot programme progresses, ongoing education and behavioural changes at farm level are crucial components.
By fostering a deep understanding of sustainable practices and their long-term benefits, the project aims to create a lasting impact on water quality and agricultural sustainability.
The Farming for Water EIP represents a significant step forward in sustainable agriculture and water quality management. Through the collaborative efforts of Kerry Agribusiness, the EIP team and farmers, such a project sets a powerful example for future initiatives.
To showcase the progress and share insights, participating farmers Mike and Bernie O’Sullivan will host a farm walk on 18 July.
The open day will allow other pilot farmers, Kerry milk suppliers and the general community to see first-hand the measures being implemented and their positive effects.
Mike highlighted the project's positive impact: “This is a great project aimed at protecting and improving the water quality of our local river and the key to it is that the funding is right. You have to have the funding in place and I must say it has been a very straightforward process for us, because the advisers have been so proactive.”
They have implemented various measures as part of the Farming for Water EIP.
On the day, attendees will see these and hear from Mike and industry experts as to why they selected these measures and what the potential benefits might be.
Speaking on one of the measures, Mike noted: “We have installed a willow bed to prevent grey water from clean yards entering the river. The willow trees will clean this water further, which gives me great confidence that I am doing my part to help water quality.”
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