Meath farmers protest over carbon tax and carbon calculations

Dozens of Meath farmers are among those taking part in a protest blocking the Musgrave Distribution Centre in Kilcock, that is continuing today.

The individual farmers who are protesting, have blocked the entrance to the distribution centre preventing lorries from entering and leaving since yesterday afternoon to highlight their dissatisfaction over carbon calculations for agriculture, among other issues.

They are also incensed over a recent letter by Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe to the banks expressing concern over large loans being approved for young dairy farmers to increase their herds.

Christopher Duffy, an agricultural contractor from Castletown is among those who are still at the scene and says they won't be leaving until they get a meeting with the Agriculture and Environment Ministers and "get some results".

"We want carbon tax to be abolished on food production until we have an alternative to burning diesel in machinery.

"The way carbon is calculated on emissions in agriculture is also completely incorrect. Farming is down for causing 35 per cent of carbon that is being generated but no credit is being given for the carbon that is being absorbed back in the growth of our crops.

"We also want Ciaran Cuffe out, who wrote the letter to the Irish banks to be cautious about lending to young farmers in the dairy industry. That letter put doubt in the minds of banks for lending for anything to do with agriculture.

"But our main issue is the carbon and the way it is calculated for agriculture. It has to be redone independently."

Christopher said other groups of farmers are also planning to protest at other distribution centres around the country as part of the protest.

A group of farmers from across Meath and some from Cavan and Monaghan met in Kilberry yesterday and travelled in convoy to the protest. Around 30 tractors as well as jeeps and trailers and some lorries made the journey to Kilcock where they joined other farmers from the region.

Lobinstown farmer Colm Meade who was part of the group, said: "We arrived at about 2.30-3pm yesterday afternoon and within three to four minutes of arriving we had stopped six lorries going in. Workers can go in and out but no lorries."

Most of them stayed last night and were replaced by other farmers this morning but he said around 15-20 never left.

He estimated that there were around 200 farmers walking up and down outside Musgraves this morning.