Around one-fifth of dairy farmers would reduce the number of cows they have by up to a quarter if Ireland's nitrates derogation is not renewed.
That is according to a survey carried out by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA), which surveyed its members on a range of issues. The ICMSA said 550 farmers responded to the survey.
One of the questions concerned was on the nitrates derogation, and what dairy farmers would be forced to do if the nitrates derogation is not renewed.
6.2% of respondents said they would cease dairy farming altogether if the derogation is not renewed, while just under 2% said they would reduce cow numbers by over 50%.
12.7% of respondents said they would reduce cow numbers by 25% to 50%.
Of those farmers who said the derogation would cause them to reduce cow numbers, the largest proportion of respondents, 20.4%, would reduce cow numbers by 15% to 24%.
Just under 17% of respondents said they would reduce cow numbers by 5% to 14%, while just under 6% of respondents said they would reduce cow numbers by between 0% and 4%.
Just under 6% of farmers surveyed said the loss of the derogation would have no impact on them.
When asked if they would avail of the new 60% grant aid for nutrient storage investments under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), a majority of respondents indicated they would not.
A combined 64% of surveyed farmers said they were unlikely to avail of the grant aid (36.8% unlikely, 26.3% very unlikely).
About a quarter of farmers (25.1%) said they were likely to avail of the grant, while 11.8% said they were very likely.
In terms of farm succession, considerably less than half of respondents (42.4%) said that they do not have a family member who wishes to farm after them, while 57.6% said they did.
64.4% of respondents said that they have made a will, while 35.6% said they have not.