I have done everything right down through the years. “I’ve enough slurry storage from the middle of October to April 1 and all my drains are fenced off. He listed some of measures he has been taking to promote sustainability on his farm. The West Cork man said he has been doing everything in his power to mitigate environmental impact. If they follow through with the proposals, it will break my heart as I’m a third generation farmer”. It’s like we (farmers) have caused all the pollution to the lakes and rivers in Ireland.
“It’s devastating to see what has been happening with the last year and a half. Mr O’Sullivan said he feels that farmers are being unfairly scapegoated. I’d love to keep doing what I’m doing but it seems like that might not be possible anymore”. It’s going to happen all over the country. Our only option is to rent out the land to the big fellas. If we are going to be offered 400 and 500 an acre for our land we’ll be gone. “It’s all my neighbours and farmers across the country too.
“It isn’t just me who is going to lose out,” he told The Echo. This, he explained, would be unviable and may lead to him being wiped out by larger farming businesses. The beef and dairy farmer said he will be forced to lose between 12 and 15 cows out of his 75-strong herd of cows if the measures come into effect. The measures would see a dramatic cut to the current herd sizes of small farmers. His concerns relate to a proposed decrease from a maximum stocking rate of 250kg of nitrogen per hectare on dairy farms to 220kg. Patrick O’Sullivan, who has been running the family farm in Drimoleague for 30 years, explained that he will make plans to wind down operations if forced to cut his herd. A West Cork farmer said he is terrified that proposals to reduce nitrates derogation stocking levels will cost him his livelihood and spell the end for rural Ireland.
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