Gearóid Maher, a fifth-generation Irish dairy farmer, stands proudly in a field that may appear to be overgrown with weeds. However, the plants, including chicory, plantain, brassica, kale leaves, and clover, have been deliberately cultivated to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions on his farm. Despite his efforts, Maher feels that dairy farmers like him are being unfairly blamed as Ireland struggles to meet its ambitious climate targets.
Ireland’s cows, which emit methane and contribute to over a quarter of global warming, are considered the country’s worst climate offenders. As a result, the government has proposed a cull of nearly 200,000 dairy cows over the next three years. The country currently has a total of 7.1 million cattle, with 1.6 million used for dairy production. The drastic cull is seen as a means to achieve a challenging 25% reduction in agricultural emissions by 2030. Ireland experienced the largest increase in greenhouse gas emissions among EU member states in the last quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 and has the highest per capita methane emissions in the bloc.
Maher’s multi-species fields are just one of the ways he is actively reducing emissions on his 210-acre farm in Cappamore, County Limerick. He has also significantly reduced the use of nitrogen fertilizers and eliminated pesticides. “There’s no chemical sprays or fertilizers. This is ready for grazing,” he proudly states. Despite the efforts of farmers like Maher, agriculture still accounts for nearly 40% of all emissions in Ireland, a country known for its grass-fed dairy and beef.
The Irish government has set a target of reducing the nation’s overall emissions by 51% by the end of the decade, with the ultimate goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, progress has been slow, with overall carbon emissions in Ireland only decreasing by 1.9% last year. The independent Environmental Protection Agency reports that the agricultural sector managed to reduce emissions by just 1.2%, although this was a turnaround from the 3.6% increase in agricultural emissions seen in 2021. The Climate Change Advisory Council warns that urgent action is needed if Ireland hopes to meet its targets.
Dairy farmers, who have seen a 38% increase in herd numbers over the past decade, according to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, feel unfairly targeted. “It’s almost like there’s a bull’s eye on our backs,” says Maher, who owns 110 cows. He adds, “The media portray us as climate killers and climate deniers. We are the first to see climate change. We are doing our bit to change things.” Climate activists, claiming that Irish farming is unsustainable, marched on Ireland’s parliament last year with a banner reading “meat + dairy = climate crisis”.
Cows have long been a part of Ireland’s pastoral landscape, with evidence of dairying dating back 6,000 years. The dairy industry contributes €13.1 billion to the Irish economy annually, supports 54,000 jobs, and achieved a record €6.8 billion in exports in 2022. Conor Mulvihill, director of Dairy Industry Ireland, emphasizes the importance of the dairy sector to the country, stating, “This is Ireland’s biggest native industry, full stop.” Mulvihill argues that a cull of 200,000 dairy cows would have a significant impact on the industry and could result in Ireland importing more milk, butter, and cheese from countries with worse environmental credentials.
While many believe that dairy producers should be the ones to reduce their herd sizes, Tony Tuohy, a former dairy farmer-turned-beef producer, suggests that beef farmers are already struggling and barely making ends meet. He argues that the removal of EU quotas in 2015 led to an increase in herd sizes and should be addressed. Ireland’s Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc) suggests that targets can be achieved if farmers adopt new methods rapidly and on a large scale. Nitrogen fertiliser reduction has proven to be the most effective means of reducing emissions, and Teagasc predicts that overall cattle numbers will naturally decrease to 6.8 million cows by 2030. By combining new technologies with slight reductions in herd sizes, emissions can be further reduced.
Pat McCormack, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, sees potential in a voluntary herd reduction scheme proposed by an agriculture ministry panel. Under this scheme, farmers would be compensated €3,000 per cow, totaling almost €200 million annually. However, there is currently no confirmation of such a scheme, and the lack of budget remains a concern. The agriculture ministry states that it is exploring the proposal further. Analysts suggest that political parties, aware of the influential rural vote, may be hesitant to fully support such a reduction scheme with elections looming within the next 18 months.
Dale Crammond, director of Meat Industry Ireland, suggests that slaughter cattle for beef earlier could have a significant impact on carbon reduction. Despite this, agriculture is not Ireland’s primary challenge in terms of emissions. According to Marie Donnelly, chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, the country’s biggest challenge lies in the transportation sector, which saw a 6% increase in emissions last year.
For Maher, the dairy farmer, the message is clear – if Ireland wants to maintain its image as a “green” country, more needs to be done to support and encourage sustainable farming practices.
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