Irish Dairy Farmers Urged to Lead in Water Quality Initiatives

Dr. Pat Dillon, director of research at Teagasc, has called on Irish dairy farmers to enhance their water quality initiatives, aiming to lead Europe in sustainable, profitable grass-based dairy farming. With over 50% of Irish surface waters rated as good or high, compared to the EU-27 average of 37%, Ireland holds a water quality advantage that Dillon believes can be further improved.

During a recent Dairy Edge podcast, Dillon highlighted the importance of the Better Farming for Water (BFFW) campaign, which focuses on catchment-based strategies. He noted that each river catchment, such as the Blackwater, presents unique challenges and opportunities, requiring tailored approaches to enhance water quality.

The campaign emphasizes improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and reducing nitrogen surplus. Dillon explained that achieving a farmgate NUE greater than 30% and maintaining nitrogen surplus at about 140kg/ha for farms with 2.2 cows per hectare are critical targets.

To reach these goals, Dillon outlined five main drivers of nitrogen surplus: chemical nitrogen application, concentrate feed per cow, crude protein levels in concentrates, soil fertility, and the effective use of organic nitrogen. He suggested that reducing concentrate feed by 400kg could lower nitrogen surplus by 25kg/ha.

Soil fertility, particularly lime application, is also a key focus area. The BFFW aims to ensure optimal soil nutrient levels, improve fertiliser and manure application timing, and reduce nutrient loss from farmyards.

Dillon expressed confidence in achieving improved water quality alongside farm profitability, stressing that all farmers have a role in this initiative. The BFFW promotes various mitigation actions, such as riparian margins and buffer strips, to support these efforts.