Farming practice about finding right balance - guest speaker at Lough Carra meeting

FARMING practice is about finding balance - creating a farm that’s not only productive but also inspiring, a place that invests in long-term sustainability for both people and the environment.

Inspiring words and food for thought from Donal Sheehan, a dairy farmer and Farming for Nature ambassador, when he addressed the Lough Carra Catchment Association AGM and public meeting, which attracted a full house at Belcarra Community Centre.

After six dedicated years as chairman, Tom Byrne stepped down from the role, though he will continue as a director. Reflecting on his tenure, Tom said the Lough Carra Catchment Association is all about 'good people doing something good'.

Attendees lauded Tom’s commitment to preserving the unique lake that is Lough Carra.

Taking up the mantle as the new chair is local man John Thornton, who acknowledged Tom’s invaluable contributions and admitting he has 'big shoes to fill'.

John is looking forward to the role, reminding everyone: “It is vital that we save Lough Carra for many reasons; the most important one is, it provides us, our children and generations to come with our drinking water.”

Local farmers are a key element in the drive to save Lough Carra and they have really embraced the lake's LIFE project.

Dairy farmer Donal Sheehan, who is the project manager of the BRIDE Project (Biodiversity Regeneration in a Dairying Environment), shared insights on the importance of integrating biodiversity conservation into farming practices. The project, which has just finished, aimed to design and implement a results-based approach to conserve, enhance and restore habitats and improve water quality.

When establishing the project, he acknowledged that one of the initial challenges was helping farmers identify with the initiative and understand its goals.

He emphasised the importance of rewarding farmers fairly, which played a key role in securing strong buy-in from both farmers and the wider community.

Addressing the negative publicity often directed at farmers, he admitted it was a persistent issue but stressed the need to 'change the image and give a better picture of what farmers are doing on the ground'.

He also highlighted that water quality challenges are not unique to Lough Carra, drawing attention to similar issues in Cork and other regions.

“Water quality problems are a shared responsibility,” he said. “Cork faces the same challenges. This is something we all need to take ownership of and work together to address.

“Farmers are often blamed for water quality issues, but the reality is, this is a shared problem, and the solution requires collective action,” Donal said.

“It’s not just about what happens on farms; it’s about all of us taking responsibility for our landscapes and working together to create change.”

He said that many of the challenges in dairy farming arise from the relentless pressure to maximise every square inch of land, which often results in the destruction of habitats for small mammals and birds, the loss of wildflowers, and the overuse of pesticides. However, he stressed that small changes in land management can make a big difference.

These adjustments don’t require sacrificing productivity but involve 'pinching a small bit of space for nature'.

“There’s a fundamental need to change the system we’re on and rethink how we produce and consume food,” he said. “Farmers are on a treadmill, constantly being asked to produce more and more. This drives greater use of fertilizers, more slurry spreading, and the removal of habitats. Something is seriously wrong.”

He finished his talk with this message: “If farming isn’t done in an environmentally responsible way, the problems we’re all facing will only get worse. The current system prioritizes economics above everything else - exploit the land, exploit the resources, and even exploit the farmers. Young people see their parents working tirelessly, putting in endless hours, only to find themselves stuck in the same place.

“Everyone recognises that water quality is a serious issue. If farming practices aren’t socially sustainable, they won’t be financially sustainable either. Overusing fertilizers pollutes our water, and that’s the same water we all rely on to drink.

“The intense pressure on dairy farmers, like calving 85 cows within six weeks, is socially unsustainable. It’s about finding balance - creating a farm that’s not only productive but also inspiring, a place that invests in long-term sustainability for both people and the environment."

The next Lough Carra Catchment Association public meeting is scheduled for January 2025. For details and updates, visit the association's website - www.loughcarra.org - or Facebook page.