Tender for Appointment of Agricultural Consultants to Progress Phase 2 of the Derryvalley Catchment Pilot Project.

Tender description

In 2017 Monaghan County Council commenced Phase 1 of a pilot project in the Derryvalley catchment in County Monaghan which was aimed at improving water quality through improved farm management practices, concentrating solely on land losses of nutrients (Phosphorus) and other pollutants from agriculture. The Derryvalley sub catchment has a large number of intensive agricultural enterprises (poultry farms), suckler and dairy farms. There are approximately 121 livestock farms, 23 of which are dairy. Our most recent register of farms indicates that there are 22 poultry farms in the catchment. Under Phase 1 of the pilot project in 2017, Monaghan County Council engaged a consultant to visit the farms in the Derryvalley catchment and assess their fertiliser management and the intensity of how the land is farmed. Each participating farmer was provided with a fertiliser management plan which is hoped will encourage good practice and possibly reduce excess nutrient land losses thereby improving water quality. Under Phase 1 a total of 46 farmers in the Derryvalley catchment participated in the pilot project. Under Phase 2 of the Derryvalley catchment project it is the intention to extend the project to include farmers who did not participate in Phase 1 of the project. It is envisaged that approximately an additional 20 farmers will participate in Phase 2 although this figure could prove to be lower or higher.