Results 201-220 of 2,446 for speaker:Tim Lombard
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: I might turn to the representatives from An Taisce-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: That is okay. I thank Ms Connolly. We will move on to An Taisce because the clock is ticking. In the representatives' opening statement, they stated that in the case of the Barrow and Slaney catchments, only 28% and 27%, respectively, of the nitrate was attributable to arable land. I take it the rest of that is pasture-based farming.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: Are we to take it the rest are pasture based?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: Of the 60% from pasture, what percentage of that farming comprises derogation farming?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: Is that not a gap? As Dr. McGoff said in her statement, derogation farmers have to go through many hoops. I think there have been 30-something different hoops over the past three years regarding farming, how they operate, water storage and huge issues regarding how to spread slurry, and then other farmers might not be in derogation. We cannot classify one against the other regarding water...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: They might be using different farming practices.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: Do we not have a nitrogen budget per farm at the moment regarding how much slurry can be spread per hectacre?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: Regarding the Timoleague catchment, which is very close to my home, there have been dramatic changes in the stocking density over recent years. The year 2018 was a blip becuase of climate issues and advice. It is amazing what they learned very quickly. It has proven something different, however, regarding good farming practices and the quality of testing. Is there an issue with how the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: Timoleague is a good news story.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: I think that would be a very fair reflection regarding the farming practices, which are quite unique and powerful. When we look at Timoleague, what was achieved as a model farm for farmers was very helpful, so I would hate to hear its good name being diminished in any way. Regarding the results, however, the stocking rates have increased quite dramatically. A place such as Leitrim is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: The science is based off the directive. The EPA put the red map together based on the directive.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: What we are discussing today is whether the directive is fit for purpose. Dr. McGoff obviously believes changes to the directive the EPA is enforcing are required if what we are coming up with is a red map that the EPA must then clarify by way of a counter-map.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: Is that not the issue? There are more issues at play than just the stocking rate. There are issues like soil type, which is a very significant issue with regard to nitrates.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: I am not saying it is more important. I am saying that it is a major issue in this debate.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: We should not be talking about the EPA map on page 27.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: I mean page 27 of the EPA report.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: The famous Cork map, as I call it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: The clerk is pulling me up, and rightly so. My last point is about how we can empower farmers to get the information. I made the point last week and will probably make it again next week that, when I get my milk collected on a dairy round on a Tuesday, I will have a test on Thursday. I will know the water quality and the quality of my product exactly. Information from the EPA's testing...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: If we are trying to empower farmers to do what they can, is not having that information not an issue?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)
Tim Lombard: Farming groups hold discussion groups every month. The matter could be discussed at those groups. People could say, for example, that water quality has gone bananas in the last four weeks and ask what people are doing. That is the obvious conversation to have.