@Garry Coll: and if all that fails they are racists…………

@Garry Coll: wow ! There must be more to this story. Those farmers have to be complaining for some reason. I think the truth needs to be revealed.

@Oh Mammy: if they want to pollute our rivers that is their human rights.

@Sal Paradise: Money is far more important than human rights (probably to every commenter here too).

@Don Johnson: Bird populations are also affected by Wind Turbines , high mortality rates around them & also by the Mink population which has exploded around Ireland, I have witnessed entire populations of ducks on lakes wiped out by Mink, so it’s not just farming, waste water treatment plants around us & septic tanks are the biggest culprits, Farmers are just the easy targets all the time, particularly for the Green Party & it’s members.

@SV3tN8M4: I would wager the impact of septic tanks on slobland wildlife is fairly negligible. All evidence points to farmers as the highest culprit in polluting the waterways. But as usual they’ll play the tiresome victim card instead of taking responsibility for a change.

@Susan Gaines: No, greed is destroying this country and the planet

@Paul Gorry: It was a long one for sure.

@Chutes: you do realize that in ireland we have the perfect climate to grow grass. It’s not really suited to growing fruit or wheat for bread as we don’t get enough sun light. We could trade our surplus of beef for those items. That’s how it’s always worked here. Also you know that a field full of grass has healthy soils full of nutrients and carbon is locked up in it. We can’t eat the grass but the cows can. Meaning our Milk and butter is among the best in the world.

@Washpenrebel: While it’s true that Ireland’s climate is ideal for growing grass, stating that the country cannot effectively produce fruit or wheat due to insufficient sunlight isn’t entirely accurate. Advances in agricultural techniques and the use of resilient crop varieties have enabled Irish farmers to successfully cultivate a variety of fruits and cereals. For example, Ireland has a growing apple industry, and grains like barley and oats are commonly produced for both domestic use and export.

Relying heavily on beef production raises significant environmental concerns. Livestock farming, particularly cattle, is a major source of methane—a greenhouse gas that is over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 100-year period, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ireland reports that agriculture accounts for about one-third of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with methane from enteric fermentation in ruminant animals being a primary contributor.

While grasslands do sequester carbon in the soil, the methane emissions from cattle often offset these benefits. Additionally, overgrazing can lead to soil degradation and a loss of biodiversity. Diversifying agricultural practices to include more crop cultivation can improve soil health through crop rotation and reduce dependency on a single industry.

Trading surplus beef for essential items like fruit and wheat may not be sustainable in the long term. It exposes the country to global market fluctuations and potential trade disruptions, which can affect food security. Producing a wider range of crops domestically can reduce the carbon footprint associated with importing goods and promote a more resilient local food system.

Moreover, while Irish dairy products like milk and butter are highly regarded, it’s important to balance production with environmental sustainability. Implementing practices that reduce emissions, such as improving feed efficiency and manure management, can help mitigate the environmental impact.

In summary, Ireland has the potential to broaden its agricultural outputs beyond livestock, which can lead to environmental benefits and enhanced food security without compromising the quality of its renowned dairy products.

@Chutes: The place is full of wild life. Hedgehogs eating the cats food, the cats drop dead shrews, mice, rats and birds at the back door every couple of days. A bumper crop of swallows nests on the house. Dead badgers and foxes on the roads, buzzards in sky picking off young pheasants, lurchers chasing hares in the distance, wasps nest in the compost heap, herrings in the river picking off the fish. Horseflies, midges and daddy longlegs everywhere.

@P. V. Aglue: While it may appear that the area is abundant with wildlife, several factual considerations suggest otherwise. Hedgehog populations, for instance, have been declining significantly in many regions due to habitat loss and road fatalities, making frequent sightings less common than implied. Similarly, swallows have experienced population decreases attributed to changes in agricultural practices and loss of nesting sites, so a “bumper crop” of nests is unlikely without conservation efforts in place.

Buzzards primarily feed on carrion and small rodents rather than young pheasants, and their hunting patterns don’t typically involve preying extensively on game birds. The mention of dead badgers and foxes on roads highlights human impact on wildlife rather than a thriving ecosystem; roadkill incidents are a leading cause of mortality for these animals.

Furthermore, herons (likely what was meant by “herrings”) are affected by water pollution and habitat destruction, which can limit their ability to feed on fish in rivers. The prevalence of pests like wasps, horseflies, midges, and daddy longlegs is often influenced by environmental imbalances, sometimes caused by reduced numbers of their natural predators.

Overall, while individual encounters with wildlife can give the impression of abundance, many species are facing challenges that reduce their populations. Human activities have significantly altered habitats, and the presence of certain animals may be more indicative of ecological imbalance than of a healthy, wildlife-rich environment.