Minister urged to act to save crops in Shannon Callows

IFA Connacht Chairman Pat Murphy has said farmers want the OPW to manage the River Shannon by dropping the water levels, while ensuring that it doesn’t cause problems further downstream.

As part of environmental schemes farmers cannot cut crops until July or they will be fined.

"Because farmers are participating in a number of environmental schemes they have cutting dates. They can’t cut before that or else they’ll be fined. The problem is the level of water on the Shannon is dictated by the ESB and Waterways Ireland and they’re trying to keep that high for the navigation."

Mr Murphy made that point that poor weather in other areas can affect the height of the water in the Shannon even if the weather is good locally.

"A couple of hours rain up in Cavan, Leitrim, Longford and Roscommon can have an effect down in the Shannon Callows this side of Athlone in two days’ time. It’s the water levels that are the problem and the water levels are regulated by the gates in Meelick and the gates in Athlone."

The Chairman added: "The water was a good bit lower last year. In Clonmacnoise they were baling one Sunday and I went up. We had a good three foot of a drop down into the River Shannon itself and there was an awful lot of boating activity that fine Sunday so the boats can run on lower levels of water. They don’t need to be as high as they are especially this time of the year. "

"The crops on the Shannon Callows make up a substantial portion of winter fodder and are extremely important for farmers. July is a key month for farmers in the Callows to harvest crops which helps ensure winter fodder is secured," he said.

"What we want is recognition that July is the key month for getting those meadows cut. There are tens of thousands of bales of hay that could be potentially lost every year if the water levels are too high so what we’re asking is to get the gates opened and the water levels dropped at this critical time in July so that farmers can get the meadows cut."

"We got them last year and it was the first year in about three years that the Callows were saved," added Mr Murphy.

"There have been significant levels of rainfall within the upper Shannon catchment recently.

“To avoid substantial crop losses over the coming days, farmers need the Minister to take immediate control of the situation and ensure the water levels are managed appropriately to reduce the risk of flooding. This will allow farmers to save their extremely valuable crops," he said.

In the longer term, an agency must be established which would include local farmers to manage the overall Shannon project to rectify the problems and maintain it thereafter,” he added.