Sharing Data on Farming Activities Vital for Improving Water Quality – Expert
Sharing data on farming activities with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is described as “hugely important” by Dr. Eimear Cotter, the director of the Office of Evidence and Assessment at the EPA.
Dr. Cotter emphasized the significance of providing the EPA with data on farming activities to better understand the impact on water quality across the country. The EPA is currently unable to link improvements in water bodies to farming activities, making it crucial for agencies like Teagasc to share data from programs like ASSAP and the Better Farming for Water campaign.
Water quality in Ireland remains a concern, with high nitrate concentrations in 40% of river sites and elevated phosphorus levels in 28% of rivers. While improvements are seen in some regions, overall water quality is not progressing due to deteriorations in other areas.
The Better Farming for Water campaign aims to educate farmers on their role in enhancing water quality by providing access to local data through catchments.ie. This initiative also includes plans to publish pollutant impact potential (PIP) maps by Q4 2024.
At the launch of the campaign, the president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Francie Gorman, highlighted the importance of implementing measures outlined by Teagasc to improve water quality, regardless of stocking rates on farms. Gorman stressed the need to prioritize water quality discussions over stocking rates for a sustainable farming future.
