Discover Duhallow Issue 60

Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP Project

Newsletter March 2022

By MICHAEL MORRISSEY

EIP Project Agri-Environmental Specialist

Project Update

The Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP Project has entered the 4th year of our 5-year project. The project which aims to protect, restore and enhance the quality of freshwater in the rivers and streams of the Allow river catchment has grown in support amongst the farming community of the Newmarket, Kanturk, Meelin and Freemount areas of Duhallow. Project farmers in the EIP implemented a wide range of measures in the project to protect and enhance the biodiversity of not only the river but also adjacent lands throughout the catchment. The target for the project was to have 85 applicants by the end of the 2021calendar year. The project achieved this total and subsequently paid out €184,940 to the active project farmers in 2021. These payments were a combination of results based payments and for the implementation of additional proposed works which are described later in this article. As the project moves into its fourth year it has a total of 93 active farmers. Unfortunately, the project is now oversubscribed and unable to take new applicants for the foreseeable future.

Water Quality Analysis 2022

The project team use a number of parameters to measure the success or progress of the project. A number of these parameters include water quality analysis. The team will be carrying out water quality analysis quarterly in 2022 including chemical analysis whereby the river water is tested for Nitrates & phosphates and biological analysis whereby the river water quality is assessed using the presence of macroinvertebrates. The project will be encouraging project farmers to carry out citizen science including biological sampling of rivers and streams in the catchment.

Water Quality analysis using biological indicators

Project Measure Surveying 2022

The time of year for field surveying in 2022 is fast approaching. Ideally all farm holdings in the project are surveyed including habitats, the farm yard connection drain and the farmyard. This year the project will be carrying out a farm assessment on all participating farmers. Where issues on the farm yard are identified the project team will work with the project farm to rectify these issues. The project farmer will be provided with a farm assessment scorecard to carry out citizen science on the farm, farm yard and farm connection drain. This scorecard will form part of the project farmer training and will be discussed further at project farmer workshops in 2022. The project has added a new tool for surveying in 2022 with the purchase of a drone. The drone will be utilised for field surveying and monitoring of project measures such as biodiversity ponds, farm roadway upgrades and in-drain siltation ponds.

Workshops

Project farmer training and workshops play an important role in the EIP project to inform both project farmers and the wider stakeholders of the relevance of high status waterbodies and river catchments. These workshops are varied in nature ranging from farmer demonstration walks, farm yard management, citizen science and river biology. Throughout the year the project team will be holding a number of training events and workshops throughout the catchment. The first training event of the year was held in early march to showcase a successful farm roadway upgrade to prevent silt run-off entering a river. This demo event highlighted the use of concrete water bars and a two chamber settlement pond to control and prevent silt run-off. The project hopes to have the next workshop in April covering the topic of improving soil biological activity and the soil health. All project farmers in both EIP’s will be invited to the event.

Farm demonstration event to show case a farm roadway upgrade to prevent silt run-off

Additional Proposed Works

The implementation of additional proposed works is continuing throughout the catchment. Some examples of proposed works verified for payment for project farmers in 2022 includes soil biological activity testing, gravity flow water systems and road cambering levellers. The project farmers have been provided with an extensive list of additional works options for 2022 including, biodiversity ponds, soil conditioning, multi-species swards, water troughs, settlement ponds and farm roadway water bars. The project looks forward to receiving new innovative examples of proposed works from the project farmers.

Multi-Species Swards

The project aims to have a number of project farmers reseed a trialplot with a multi species sward (MSS) in 2022. These multispecies swards fix nitrogen from the soil and atmosphere, therefore, reducing the amount of chemical nitrogen the crop requires to grow. This natural process reduces the chemical fertiliser bill for the farmer over the lifespan of the sward. The preferred multispecies sward mix includes perennial ryegrass, timothy, white clover, redclover, plantain and chicory. Soil type is extremely important in selecting a plot for MSS, as a result, the project team will survey the plot pre sowing to assess suitability. The team aims to have the MSS trail plots sown in the first 15 farms participating in the EIP projects in April with a second tranche of farms selected to implement the measure in the Autumn.

Wildlife & Biodiversity on your farm

Just a quick note on the importance of having an area for wildlife and biodiversity on your farm. Even a small area or field corner can be beneficial and support a wide range of wildlife. Our hedgerows around the farm are extremely important for insects and small mammals so retain these hedgerows for wildlife and remember the season is now closed for hedgerow maintenance. With regards the spreading of organic and inorganic fertilisers please adhere to all buffers as prescribed in the Good Agricultural Practises for the Protection of Watercourses. Failure to adhere to these buffers will result in excessive nutrient run-off to adjacent drains, streams and rivers. As a result, increased levels of nitrates and phosphates will severely impact river water quality and flora and fauna of these important freshwater habitats.

Owentaraglin (Araglin) River EIP

Our Owentaraglin River EIP project commenced in January and is almost already at full capacity with many farmers interested in implementing measures to help improve water quality and biodiversity on the Owentaraglin (known as the Araglin). The Araglin is a high water quality status river with populations of Freshwater Pearl Mussel and with Atlantic Salmon making their way up the river each year to spawn. This project is unique in that is a locally specific Agri-environmental scheme, that accounts for the powerful, meandering nature of the River Araglin when planning measures. Key to the success of a project like this, is the close co-operation between the project team and the participating farmers. As the project is only one year in duration the project team have been busy walking farms and developing farm plans that benefit both the river and the farmer. Farmers too have been busy, with some project measures already complete! Farmers have also already attended their first farm visit to a Duhallow Blue Dot farm where they saw real examples of project measures in action. Measures funded under the project include: Farm roadway upgrades, In-drain silt settlement ponds, Biodiversity ponds, Watercourse fencing, In-filling of trackside drains, Riverbank tree planting, Alternative drinking sources, Solar-powered water pumps, Hedgerow establishment, Culvert installation, Barn Owl and Kestrel nest box installation, Multi-species swards, and, Habitat retention. Innovation is an important part of the project; in the end of the day, farmers know their farms best and are therefore encouraged to share their ideas for measures, which may be eligible for funding if they offer a benefit to the river. Applications are still open to join the project. If you have an active herd number and are farming land adjacent (or nearby and draining into) the main channel or a tributary of the Araglin you are eligible. Interested farmers should call IRD Duhallow at (029) 60633.

River Araglin