A Cratloe farmer is warning of a ‘day of reckoning’ ahead on food production if emissions targets for the agriculture sector end up being met.
Negotiations are continuing between the three coalition party leaders on a final figure, with an agreement understood to be possible today.
The Government’s Climate Action Plan pledges a carbon emissions cut of between 22 and 30 percent for the agriculture sector by 2030.
The sticking point between Ministers and the three party leaders all week has been what exactly that final figure will be.
The Green Party’s aiming for the higher end, towards 30 percent, with both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael understood to favour cuts between the 22 and 24 percent range.
Some backbench Government TDs have called for a decision to be delayed until September, but environmentalists say waiting only kicks the problem down the road.
Farmers across this county, meanwhile, are accusing Ministers of ‘hypocrisy’ in seeking to reduce emissions while still importing meat from outside the EU trade bloc.
Cratloe farmer Eddie Punch, who’s General Secretary of the Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers Association, says whatever percentage is decided on, it will be difficult for farmers to meet.
The West Clare Chair of the Independent Farmers of Ireland group says farmers’ work on carbon sequestration needs to be taken into account on emissions targets.
The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide is taken into account in calculating farming emissions in other European countries.
Kilmurry McMahon-based farmer Seamus Shannon believes farmers aren’t being given enough credit for the work he says they are already doing to reduce emissions.
The issue has renewed fears about an aging farming population and the difficulties in attracting younger people to take up the mantle.
O Callaghans Mills-based County Chair of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Martin McMahon, says emission reductions at the higher end could be the final straw for many part time farmers.
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