Growing numbers of Tirlán suppliers seek EIP funding to improve water quality

Close to 100 Tirlán suppliers are progressing applications for financial support under the €60 million Farming for Water EIP to further enhance water quality in the catchment.

At a discussion group in the River Bann area in Co Wexford, suppliers spoke about working with Tirlán’s newly-established Farm Support Service as part of the Farming for Water River Slaney Project.

Many of those in attendance at the meeting on Tirlán Chair John Murphy’s family farm in Wexford highlighted the applications they have made for funding, including fencing off watercourses, testing slurry, planting hedges and native trees and investing in plant and machinery to enhance water quality and support Ireland’s bid to retain the Nitrates Derogation.

Tirlán suppliers who have not yet engaged with the Farm Support Service team, their ASSAP advisors or their local Tirlán support team are encouraged to get in touch now for free and confidential help and support in assessing their farm needs and making a funding application, where appropriate.

Free and confidential

Speaking at the discussion group meeting, Thomas Ryan, Head of Agri-Sustainability at Tirlán, said 97 EIP funding applications have already been made by Tirlán suppliers. Many more are in train, he said.

“The new Farming for Water EIP is an important resource that all of our farm families should be availing of. All advice and support provided in considering or making an application is free and confidential. We would urge all of our suppliers to contact any of the Tirlán team for advice and support and that we work together to make the strongest possible case for the retention of the derogation post December 2025.”

Funding for significant on-farm investments such as increased slurry storage capacity is also readily available through ifac, Tirlán suppliers gathered for the discussion group heard from ifac’s Head of Farm Support, Philip O’Connor.

Borrow for longer

He advised those considering investing in additional slurry storage to carefully evaluate their business structure and overall financial health and not to compromise their cashflow by over-extending themselves. He also suggested that those choosing to borrow would ‘hedge’ by borrowing for longer.

“Short-term debt can be a real killer on cashflow on a farm so it is important that you structure your repayments right. Borrowing is a good thing, if you structure it correctly,” he urged.

And as the focus for the Farm Support Service and ASSAP teams working in the Slaney catchment in Wexford now moves from the River Bann to the Derreen, we asked a number of farmers attending the discussion group to tell us about the actions they have already taken to enhance water quality and what’s next on the agenda to enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of their family farms.

John Bardon, Tirlán supplier, Bann catchment

“We’ve always been very conscious of protecting water quality on the farm and it’s part of everything we do every day. “We’ve put together an application under the Farming for Water EIP. It was very straight-forward. We’re looking at adding a sediment trap and investing in a bucket and brush. We’re also looking at planting more hedgerows and improving drains around the farm. “These are all things that I wanted to do for peace of mind and the available support under the EIP is speeding up that process. I’m very hopeful, confident even, that through the work done and planned in the short-term on farms that we can get the results needed to retain the derogation which is very important in our grass-based system.”

Aidan Whitty, Tirlán supplier, Bann catchment

“We’re always carrying out improvements on the farm to protect water quality on the Bann. In the past while we’ve put 15 loads of concrete onto the yard and we have invested in a whole new drainage system. “This system separates the clean water from the grey water so we can protect water quality. It takes the pressure off, no matter what the weather or what the time of year. “We have applied under the Farming for Water EIP. Some of the investments we’re planning include a brush, a bunded ditch, sediment drains and more hedges. These were all part of our long-term plan but the timing of the EIP has encouraged us to do them that bit quicker.”

First published 11 November 2024