Farmers putting shoulder to wheel with Agri emissions reduction

Farmers across the country are leading by example with agriculture emissions dropping, Senator Tim Lombard has said.

The Cork Fine Gael Senator said the EPA confirming the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture highlights the constructive and common-sense approach taken by all involved in the sector.

“Today we see a report from the EPA showing a welcome 1.9pc decrease in Irelands greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from agriculture have decreased by 1.2pc,” Senator Lombard said.

“This puts an end to suggestions from some quarters that Irelands emissions are increasing and in particular, that farmers are not doing their bit.

“The reduction in emissions from the agricultural sector is a direct result of the changes in practice and new technologies which farmers have embraced and should be acknowledged as such,” he said.

Senator Lombard said, “Some politicians have used the unacceptable practices which occurred outside the farm gate to further hammer farmers this past week.

“For some, the narrative never changes. Talk of needing to ‘massively’ reduce the herd is not based on science. It’s a continuation of the same old narrative”.

“Myself and my colleagues in Fine Gael work with farmers and the agricultural sector to find constructive and practical solutions rather than continuously working against the sector and making unrealistic demands.

“A prime example of this is the vote on the Nature Restoration Law in the European Parliament earlier this week. 

“The five Fine Gael MEPs voted for this law after working to ensure that significant and appropriate amendments were adopted.

“It’s not always easy to get the balance right – ensuring that our agricultural sector and our family farms remain viable and sustainable while also respecting our rural communities and climate action targets. Working together, that can be achieved as the past week demonstrates,” Senator Lombard said.