The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 15 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details Organic Nutrients

Intended results To call on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to change how organic nutrient import capacity is calculated to provide greater certainty for farmers and advisers and encourage the use of organic manures. To propose that the calculation on how much nutrients a farmer can import should be based on last year’s stocking rate rather than the current year’s figures. To highlight that rising fertiliser prices and potential supply constraints highlight the importance of making the most of organic manures. That, with fertiliser prices increasing again and international supply chains under pressure, it makes sense to maximise the nutrients already being produced. Organic manures help to reduce reliance on imported fertiliser and improves nutrient efficiency at farm level, both of which contribute to meeting our climate targets and improving water quality. To emphasise that farmers need certainty when it comes to nutrient management. Using the previous year’s figures would provide a clear baseline and allow farmers to plan with confidence. To highlight the importance of this proposal for pig producers, who rely on grassland farms to utilise nutrients produced on pig farms. To stress that the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine needs to act immediately and reinstate the pre-2022 system so farmers can plan properly and make full use of organic manures at a time when fertiliser prices and supply remain uncertain.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Michael Caffrey IFA Pig & Pigmeat Chair, John Murphy IFA Environment & Rural Affairs Chair

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

William Aird TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter 'Chap' Cleere TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Cooney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Danny Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Natasha Newsome Drennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Paraic Brady Senator (Seanad)

Joanne Collins Senator (Seanad)

Paul Daly Senator (Seanad)

Eileen Lynch Senator (Seanad)