Lakeland Dairies to host water quality event

Lakeland Dairies will host a major water quality event in the Moynalty Catchment, Co Meath as part of the €60m Farming for Water EIP.

The event, which is supported by the Local Authority Water Programme (LAWPRO) and Teagasc, will highlight the benefits of the Farming for Water project and how farmers are taking proactive steps to improve water quality.

Farmers are being encouraged to attend the event on the farm of Sean and John Gilsenan in Moynalty, Co Meath on Tuesday, December 3 from 11am to 1pm. Speakers on the day include Lakeland Dairies, Teagasc and LAWPRO.

Lakeland Dairies has chosen the Moynalty Catchment as a “Champion Catchment” to act as an example for farmers across the region to drive water quality improvements in their area. Tirlán and Kepak are also supporting the event which will have Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) members present too. ASSAP advisors visit farms in relevant areas, highlighting any issues identified and then make recommendations on actions to the farmer to mitigate the issues.

The €60m Farming for Water project, aims to support water quality improvements. Measures are designed and implemented in collaboration with farmers and will be targeted specifically to address local challenges.

Anthony Coleman Director of Services at LAWPRO said: “We will be engaging with up to 15,000 farmers throughout the country through this initiative.

“The project motto is “Working together with farmers and the community at large to deliver enhanced and sustained water quality improvement measures for the benefit of the environment, water life and all society.”

The initiative will focus on supplementary measures for water quality but will also include co-benefits such as aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity, climate action and natural flood management measures,” Anthony Coleman said.