The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire
In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire
UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović
US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire
Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović Anti-Empire >>
A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog. We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader 2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony Public Inquiry >>
Voltaire, international edition
Netanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en
Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en
Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en
Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en Voltaire Network >>
|
Straw shortage impacts on environment. Peat permitted as animal bedding due to ‘exceptional circumstances’
national |
environment |
press release
Thursday September 27, 2018 21:43 by foie - Friends of Irish Environment
![Report this post to the editors Report this post to the editors](../graphics/report.gif)
Press Release - Friends of the Irish Environment -26th Sep 2018
Peat permitted as animal bedding due to ‘exceptional circumstances. Ban on use on organic farms also lifted
The Department of Agriculture has responded to objections about Teagasc’s recommended use of peat for animal bedding by stating that the authorisation has only been made in the ‘exceptional circumstances of the current fodder and bedding shortage’.
riends of the Irish Environment [FIE] had written to the Minister objecting to a recent Teagasc Factsheet entitled ‘Alternatives to straw bedding’ which recommended peat as an alternative to straw for animal bedding. The environmental charity’s submission provided evidence that Bord na Mona and independent operators are aggressively marketing peat for animal bedding this autumn. ‘It is not Teagasc policy to recommend peat as a long term option for bedding, rather as a temporary and very limited alternative this year,’ the Minister’s office informed FIE. ‘The Teagasc Factsheet of 18 July 2019 (Alternatives to straw bedding), which referred to the use of peat for bedding will be updated to reflect this position.’
The Department has also informed FIE that organic farmers, who are normally prohibited from using peat as animal bedding, can also use peat for bedding ‘on a temporary basis for the period of the winter housing 2018/2019’.
While ‘both the Department and Teagasc recognise that peatlands actively sequester carbon from the atmosphere and have high biodiversity value’, the Department told FIE that ‘the provision of adequate bedding for livestock is essential to ensure animal health and welfare’.
The peat is being extracted without planning permission or EPA licensing, according to FIE. The High Court this year confirmed a 2013 An Bord Pleanala ruling that these industrial operations required planning permission, but the 2013 stay on the ruling permitting continued operations without authorisation remains in place until the legal appeals process is concluded.
FIE, who have been monitoring extraction sites on the raised bogs of County Westmeath, found that the practices being used by private companies have seen whole fields ‘literally gouged out, down to the minerals below, making future regeneration almost impossible.
Ironically,’ Director Tony Lowes said, ‘this new market arises from extreme weather events due to global warming which will only be increased by the use of peat for animal bedding. The problem is not too little fodder or bedding, but too many animals.’
A video including drone footage of the operations released on FIE's facebook page two weeks ago has had 18,000 visits and 6,000 views.
Contact: Tony Lowes 353 (0)27 74771 / 353 (0)87 2176316
Daithí Ó hÉalaithe (Irish language) +353 (0)87 6178852
EDITORS NOTES
URLs for video
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheIrishEnvironment/
https://youtu.be/sUX6d90Y2ag
Letter from Minister
https://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/images/peat/peat_min...8.pdf
Letter to the Minister
http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/images/pdf/Minister_b...8.pdf
Tackling Peat Extraction [FIE Review]
http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/images/peat/2016_biod...d.pdf
|