Agricultural Mini-Catchment Programme

Current Vacancies

Teagasc has undertaken to conduct the Agricultural Mini-Catchment Programme at the request of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Agricultural Mini-Catchment Programme will evaluate the effectiveness of the National Action Programme mitigation measures (S.I. 378 of 2006) which implement the Nitrates Directive. A number of intensively farmed mini-catchments on a range of contrasting soil types will be established in partnership with stakeholders. The effect of changes in farm management practices on the transfer of nutrients from source to water and their impact on water quality will be evaluated. Measurements, modelling and socio-economic studies will be used to evaluate the efficacy, cost effectiveness and economic impact of the measures. Modifications to measures will be identified where evidence indicates that water quality targets may not be achieved.

The vision for the Mini-Catchment programme is a national project of excellence based on a stakeholder partnership which will generate knowledge to underpin profitable farm production in a clean environment so as to promote rural development.

The three Mini-Catchment programme objectives are:

To establish a group of intensively farmed mini-catchments, where productive agriculture is practiced and water quality targets are or may be compromised.
To generate the knowledge to ascertain the efficacy and cost effectiveness of the National Action Programme measures against a background of profitable farming.
To disseminate this knowledge to a wide audience.

To achieve these objectives an integrated team of research, advisory and technical staff is being assembled to work with the farmers in the mini-catchments in conjunction with Teagasc’s Research and Advisory Directorates. This integrated research and advisory programme will be managed by the Programme Manager. The Principal Scientist will lead the scientific team within the group. The Programme will be guided by an Expert Steering Group established by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Close liaison will be maintained with farmers and the farming organisations at local and national level. The programme will run from 2008 to 2012.

The programme will provide:

Planning and technical support for participating farmers to underpin profitable farming systems. Profitability will be benchmarked against the top 10% of Irish farmers in each enterprise.
Baseline and monitoring datasets for farm production, nutrient and farm management practices, nutrient transformations and transfers to water and their impact on its quality. These will be used to contribute to the national monitoring requirements of both the Nitrate and Water Framework Directives
A transparent scientific and economic assessment of the effectiveness of the measures in S.I. 378 of 2006, required by the National Action Programme. Modifications of the measures to meet the water quality targets established in both Directives will be identified, if required.
An elucidation of socio-economic and behavioural impediments that must be overcome.
A platform for technology transfer, education and promotion which will use the output from the programme in the formulation of advisory and technology transfer initiatives.

Models will be developed in conjunction with regional and national experts and agencies. These will be used to evaluate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of the measures at a range of scales in other catchments with different physical and climatic conditions.