Angus Woods: Dairy’s attitude towards other sectors is hampering its efforts to keep the derogation
Most farmers don’t need the derogation – but to apply political pressure, it looks better if all farmers are united behind the cause
'The EU has stated that to retain a nitrates derogation for farming, water quality needs to improve, and this EPA report is not showing an improvement'. Photo: Damien Eagers
Nutrient pollution was the biggest factor affecting water quality last year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest report.
This was not a huge surprise; it continued a trend. Water quality is an issue that concerns everybody. There are many farmers whose ideal day off is to go fishing. I enjoy rowing, and I would like to do it on clean rivers and lakes.
