Farmers demand halt to GAEC 2” - ‘No compensation, no consultation’

A packed hall of concerned farmers gathered at the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon on Thursday, April 11, despite the good weather, to discuss growing concerns surrounding new agricultural regulations on peatlands and wetlands.

The meeting was organized by Sligo Councillor Michael Clarke, who also serves as the representative for the northwest on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Monitoring Committee. Clarke emphasized the urgent need to inform farmers about these imminent changes, stating: "The restrictions in GAEC 2 mean farmers can no longer plant trees or sell land for forestry, dramatically reducing land value."

Key speakers included Shane Whelan, IFA policy executive, who addressed concerns about the new Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 2 (GAEC 2), and Paul O'Brien from the IFA, who discussed the implications of the Nature Restoration Law. Colm O'Donnell from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) also delivered an important presentation on the topic.

Attendees included Liam Gilligan, chair of the Leitrim IFA, and Paddy O'Rourke, chair of Leitrim County Council, who were both present to support the farmers' concerns. Representatives from numerous other farming organizations, including the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), Macra, and others, also participated in the discussions.

"Farmers weren't fully aware of these regulations, which will significantly affect their land-use options," Clarke said. "Land previously valued around €5,000 per acre—often bought by pension funds for forestry—is now economically inaccessible. The land market value will plummet."

He further explained the practical impacts, noting, "You'll need planning permission for everything—draining land, building a sheep shed, or even ploughing and reseeding. These are basic farming practices being severely restricted."

"The government and the EU want this land protected because of its carbon storage potential," Clarke added. "Carbon trades at around €70 per tonne, and there's no compensation for farmers for these new restrictions."

Farmers at the meeting expressed significant frustration over the lack of consultation. Clarke further highlighted specific concerns around land re-wetting, stating: "You can opt in to wet your land, to wet this land, but if you have four or five farmers in an area where if one farmer wets their land, it affects all five... Any farmer that is going to abandon their land and re-wet it, should have to put in planning permission first, and then surrounding farmers can object to it if they want."

Clarke underscored this sentiment, remarking, "Farmers are pretty annoyed that this has been imposed on them without any real input. We invited politicians from across the region, but the turnout from political representatives was disappointingly low."

The farming organisations unanimously agreed to write directly to the Minister for Agriculture and the European Commission, firmly rejecting the proposed GAEC 2 regulations. Key demands included ensuring nature restoration projects remain voluntary and providing neighboring farmers with a right to object to land abandonment or re-wetting initiatives.

"Our objective was to inform farmers," Clarke concluded. "The message was clear: this proposal has serious consequences, and the farming community will actively oppose it. We're at the 11th hour, and we need real political representation now more than ever."

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Sligo Councillor Michael Clarke, representative for the northwest on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Monitoring Committee.