Educating farmers seen as solution

TEAGASC research officer, Dr Noel Culleton, who is a soils specialist, agrees with some of the concerns expressed by the Mayo committee. Teagasc's recommendations on phosphorous may change in the face of "a strong, ongoing debate" at present.

"There is now a considerable body of evidence that indicates high soil P (phosphorous) can lead to loss of this P into rivers and lakes. There is a genuine risk of pollution caused by run off of water from land that contains high P. It should also be said that there is no agronomic reason for high soil P."

A resolution had to be found between environmental concerns while at the same time protecting farming industry, he said. It was not an open and shut case as recommendation levels after depending on whether land was used for grazing/silage or tillage. "We are looking at it as objectively and as scientifically as possible."

Excessive phosphorous levels arise in soil from a variety of sources, including farmyard waste, slurry (especially when put out at the wrong time of year), and fertiliser application. Many farmers are putting out fertiliser as well as slurry, ignoring the value of slurry and overloading phosphorous levels in soil.

"Teagasc would be certainly against that. Using slurry correctly could cut down dramatically on the amount of fertiliser being applied. Farmers need to be educated on this.

If farmers follow Teagasc's recommendations and carefully evaluate fertiliser/slurry inputs they will not have phosphorous problems. "That kind of nutrient management planning, however, has not sunk in."

He did not believe the recommended levels, based on grading soils into four categories, were too generous in favour of farmers, provided recommendations were followed accurately. That said, he accepted that current arrangements/conditions could not continue indefinitely and limits might need to be stricter.

Introducing by laws to curb phosphate loading near waterways - as is being considered by Mayo County Council - or legal restrictions might not be the right approach, he said

"A lot of the losses of phosphorous into water bodies comes directly from farmyards. Housekeeping is the problem. That can be resolved, so it need not necessarily be a conflict of interest between farming and environmental interests."