The Wexford branch of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has launched a guide for farmers to improve water quality in the county.
Wexford IFA will hold a tillage event on the farm of William and Craig Masterson in Bunclody (Eircode Y21 CK76) on Wednesday evening at which the guide will be officially launched.
The event will also discuss grain markets, the future of the sector and the potential for solar on tillage farms.
IFA environment chair John Murphy said the Better Farming for Water programme and the Farming for Water EIP are helping farmers to go beyond regulatory requirements to protect and restore water bodies.
“The latter project is open to all farmers with land in priority action areas (PAAs) where targeted water quality improvements are needed,” he said.
Water quality
The pilot initiative contains eight actions for change as part of the Better Farming for Water programme under three headings: nutrient management, farmyard management and land management.
In Wexford, 44% of rivers have high or good ecological status, while 31% have moderate ecological status with overall water quality in rivers improving.
The pressures on water quality in Co Wexford are similar to the pressures at national level, with agriculture being the predominant pressure, the report found.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nitrates is an issue in 42% of river sites in Co Wexford, largely due to diffuse runoff from fertilised grasslands and tillage, while phosphorus is high in 28% of river sites, typically linked to inadequate fencing, which allows livestock direct access to streams.
The different type of agricultural pressures on water quality in Co Wexford. / IFA
Read more
Over 99% of drinking water of good standard - EPA
Certified Irish Angus event demonstrates sustainable water solutions
The Wexford branch of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has launched a guide for farmers to improve water quality in the county.
Wexford IFA will hold a tillage event on the farm of William and Craig Masterson in Bunclody (Eircode Y21 CK76) on Wednesday evening at which the guide will be officially launched.
The event will also discuss grain markets, the future of the sector and the potential for solar on tillage farms.
IFA environment chair John Murphy said the Better Farming for Water programme and the Farming for Water EIP are helping farmers to go beyond regulatory requirements to protect and restore water bodies.
“The latter project is open to all farmers with land in priority action areas (PAAs) where targeted water quality improvements are needed,” he said.
Water quality
The pilot initiative contains eight actions for change as part of the Better Farming for Water programme under three headings: nutrient management, farmyard management and land management.
In Wexford, 44% of rivers have high or good ecological status, while 31% have moderate ecological status with overall water quality in rivers improving.
The pressures on water quality in Co Wexford are similar to the pressures at national level, with agriculture being the predominant pressure, the report found.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nitrates is an issue in 42% of river sites in Co Wexford, largely due to diffuse runoff from fertilised grasslands and tillage, while phosphorus is high in 28% of river sites, typically linked to inadequate fencing, which allows livestock direct access to streams.
The different type of agricultural pressures on water quality in Co Wexford. / IFA
Read more
Over 99% of drinking water of good standard - EPA
Certified Irish Angus event demonstrates sustainable water solutions
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: