Bryan meets farmers over nitrates review

IFA President John Bryan last Friday visited a number of farms in Cavan and Monaghan and met with pig, poultry and dairy producers in the Kilmore Hotel in Cavan to discuss their growing concerns in relation to the ongoing review of the Nitrates regulations. Speaking in Cavan Mr Bryan said that he was using this opportunity to highlight the serious job losses that will occur in the region should the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith and his government fail to address the concerns of pig and poultry producers in the Nitrates Review. "Pig and poultry producers in the Cavan/Monaghan region employ hundreds of people directly and indirectly and it is critical for the area that the Nitrates Review does not impact negatively on their business", said the IFA President. John Bryan has welcomed the publicly acknowledgment by the Director of Teagasc, Professor Gerry Boyle, that the review could have a devastating economic impact on these sectors. "The delivery of an economically feasible nitrates action plan is vital if the region is to deliver the full growth potential identified in the Government's strategy for the sector, Food Harvest 2020," he concluded.