Derogation cuts coming for Timoleague as nitrate levels remain high
Cork South-West Michael Collins said farmers in Timoleague were doing their utmost, and it would set a good example to the dairy sector if they were rewarded, rather than have their derogation reduced.
Nitrates in the river leaving the Timoleague agricultural catchment are double what they should be to achieve good ecological status in the adjoining estuary, agriculture minister Martin Heydon said last week.
He said it is why the catchment has been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as one of the areas requiring a nitrate reduction measure next December, with the maximum derogation stocking rate reducing from 250kg to 220kg of organic nitrogen per hectare.
