On our front page last week we indicated that Ireland’s farmers are facing the prospect of having to apply for planning permission if they want to dig a drain on peat based soils. The reaction was as expected negative but not really a surprise because farmers believe they are the last to hear about these proposals… Yet the cost of compliance is a huge issue. And given the quality of much of the land in the west of Ireland, the response to the suggestion was one of disbelief with claims that farming is being legislated out of existence by the mandarins in Dublin and Brussels. These are going to be difficult times ahead for farmers with much of the agenda based on whether or not it is worthwhile remaining in farming. There are new realities to be faced, not only in Brussels but also as a consequence of the last government signing into a commitment to meet our emissions reductions targets.
