The Irish Times – Saturday 22 July 2023 - Can agriculture and reduced emissions coexist? Meet the pioneer farmers who are leading the way

The Irish Times – Saturday 22 July 2023 Can agriculture and reduced emissions coexist? Meet the pioneer farmers who are leading the way An initiative involving 23 farmers aims to show how a balance between agriculture and the environment can be struck Sylvia Thompson, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about health, heritage and the environment Farmers Donie and Colette Reegan with Doug McMi. [...] As we move on to the drained peatland pastures (or peat grasslands as they are also known) on the Reegan farm, we discuss the vociferous debates which recently led to the removal of rewetting targets from the forthcoming European Nature Restoration law. [...] Researchers from the University of Galway and Teagasc are monitoring the water levels on the farms while McMillan predicts the reduced carbon emissions. [...] Page 4 of 5 McMillan believes that paludaculture (wetland) crops and wetlands forestry could be developed on other peatlands throughout Ireland as new sources of income for farmers, both from the crops and the carbon sequestration on the rewetted bog lands. [...] Donie and Colette Reegan have been enjoying the dragonflies, butterflies and ducks on the pond and Donie plans to build a raised hut so that his grandchildren can observe the birds and insects from a height.