Tirlán and the Farming for Water - River Slaney Project partners have seen the pace of action on farms and in the community to enhance water quality accelerate in the 12 months since the launch of the programme.

The collaborative project, involving Tirlán, Teagasc, the Local Authorities Water Programme(LAWPRO) and accounting and advisory specialists, ifac, is working to provide practical advice and support to protect and enhance water quality across the catchment.

In addition to over 2,000 on-farm sustainability engagements across the Tirlán supply catchment, 256 Tirlán suppliers have already submitted over €1.5 million in applications to the €60 million government and European Commission Farming for Water EIP (European Innovation Partnership) fund.

The fund is for dedicated water enhancement measures on family farms and the number of applications is expected to increase significantly over the coming months.

Growing numbers of farm families are working with the cooperative’s farm sustainability advisors, attending discussion groups, farm walks and workshops and taking science-based actions on farm and in the community to improve water quality and enhance biodiversity.

Local authorities across the catchment, along with Uisce Éireann, and food companies, Kepak, Dawn, and ABP Food Group, are also supporting the programme.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said: “It is great to see an all-of-industry approach to the issue of water quality along one of Ireland’s major rivers.

"This programme presents a huge opportunity for all parties involved to continue to play a pivotal role in driving positive and long-lasting change across a huge swathe of one of Ireland’s most fertile regions.

"We've made progress and I appreciate that but we can't be complacent and together we can all make a difference to water quality in the region," the minister said.

Tirlán chairperson, John Murphy, added: “We are committed to long-term programmes to support our farmers to continue their work to enhance and protect their lands and waters for the future.

"We have seen a high level of engagement with this programme and hit many milestones over the past year.

"The willing engagement of our farmers with the Farming for Water programme shows they want to do their best for their lands and their communities. It will take time for the best practice measures to be fully reflected in water quality data captured," Murphy explained.

Tirlán stated that it has been working with the government and advocating at EU level that an extension of time to showcase improving water quality is imperative.

The co-op welcomed the progress in the recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) early insight report on nitrogen levels in rivers and acknowledged that more needs to be done.

Tirlán CEO, Seán Molloy, said: “We are focused on ensuring that Tirlán and its farmers, alongside agri-food organisations across the country, deliver the best possible case for Ireland’s retention of the nitrates derogation.

“The months ahead are a crucial period for Ireland to maintain momentum. Our ask is that all farm families continue their good work and engage with us and our partners, with our dedicated teams and ASSAP [Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme] advisors.

"Funding is readily available under the Farming for Water EIP for focused, results-driven actions to protect water and our teams are available to support suppliers to avail of these," Molloy added.

Teagasc director, Prof. Frank O’ Mara said: “We are delighted to be working with all the stakeholders as part of the 'Better Farming for Water’ campaign, and in particular with Tirlán through the Slaney Project to address the main issues in the catchment.

"We have put a major focus on promoting catch crops with our tillage and drystock farmers, as a means of reducing nitrate levels in the Slaney and surrounding areas.

"Further work and collaboration needs to happen to make progress in addressing this issue," Prof. O'Mara added.

LAWPRO’s director of services, Anthony Coleman, said: “The Farming for Water: River Slaney Project has resulted in greater awareness of the importance of good water quality.

"The Local Authority Waters Programme will continue to provide the catchment with science data and information that will help inform farmers and landowners which water quality measures need to be put in place that will benefit our environment, our economy and society in general.

“The Farming for Water EIP project also continues to provide advice, training and funding to farmers in the Slaney catchment to undertake appropriate measures that will help improve and protect water quality."

Recent key performance indicators (KPIs) from the Farming for Water EIP show that Tirlán suppliers are active and engaged when it comes to assessing potential on-farm threats to water quality, applying for support and taking any necessary corrective action.

The Farming for Water - River Slaney Project has also been recognised as a model for best practice and was a finalist in the recent Green Awards.

Tirlán has said that its dairy farmers are taking practical actions on farm to support the environment and enhance the sustainability of the businesses, with over 99% participation in the €16 million annual Sustainability Action Payment programme.

Tirlán began the project in April 2024 in the Bann sub-catchment, a key area of concern on the Slaney.

That focus has now extended across the entire Slaney and into the Tirlán supplier base of farm families across the midlands, east and south-east.