Kilkenny IFA and Kilkenny County Council Agree Farm Inspection Protocol

A new protocol for farm inspections has been agreed between Kilkenny IFA and Kilkenny County Council (KCC).

It follows a meeting which was hosted by IFA Environment rep Eamonn Sheehan on his farm. It showcased the extensive measures being undertaken to protect watercourses and enhance biodiversity, while producing high-quality food.

The protocol followed negotiations between the Council and Kilkenny IFA in recent weeks and sets out an agreed set of principles for farm inspections.

Under the new National Agriculture Inspections Programme, county councils are required to carry out environmental inspections on farms. IFA has raised the concerns of farmers, in particular the need for an appropriate notice period in advance of any inspection.

Kilkenny IFA chair Brendan Hickey highlighted the significance of this agreement and what it provides for farm families across Kilkenny.

“Farm inspections under the new National Agriculture Inspections Programme have raised concerns for farmers and this gives a degree of clarity,” he said.

“The meeting was a great opportunity for IFA to demonstrate to our county councillors the level of work on water quality and biodiversity. I think everybody that attended came away with a much better understanding of how much progress is being made in these areas,” concluded Mr Hickey.