Farmers told to set targets to cut use of phosphates

The extent of phosphate pollution in Irish lakes and rivers is such that merely educating farmers about excessive use of slurry and fertiliser will have little effect, an environment conference has heard.

Even if stringent targets to cut phosphate use are met, it would take more than 15 years for many lakes and rivers to be restored to an acceptable condition, said Mr Aidan Barry, chief officer of the South Western Regional Fisheries Board.

By "acceptable" he meant having a phosphate level which would not trigger an algal bloom or fuel eutrophication, which upsets the nutrient balance in water, causes severe environmental strain and kills fish.

He told the conference, organised by the farm research body, Teagasc, in Lucan, Co Dublin, it was time that farmers - who are responsible for the largest amount of phosphate waste - set targets with a view to wiping out excess phosphate in soil by the year 2000. They also needed to embrace more sustainable farm methods.

Advising them to reduce phosphate would not work unless it was combined with some form of "financial driver", such as the imposition of VAT or a tax on fertilisers, which is in place in some EU countries.

Catchment management plans, with all water-users having an input, should be pursued in any scenario.

With the current excess of phosphate applied to Irish soils estimated at 46,000 tonnes, this meant Irish soils have 150 per cent more than required, facilitating the excess to run-off into water.

"The single most important action that can be taken now is to set targets. The excess for 1998 should be halved. I'm asking Teagasc and the IFA to accept and work towards these targets. This sort of reduction is achievable, but not by advice alone."

Norway had achieved a 40 per cent cut in phosphate applications over eight years but had used a tax to do so. "It is not feasible to reduce Irish levels by the scale required without an economic driver. I call on farmers, the IFA and Teagasc to prove me wrong." The need for such a radical approach was underlined by the events of last summer when 4,500 acres of the Lakes of Killarney turned pea-soup green.