CAFRE rolls out new water quality training for agri-professionals

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has launched their water quality training programme for agri-professionals.

The first few sessions of the programme were held recently at the college’s Greenmount Campus.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) outlined that the training is aimed at supporting agri-professionals who work directly with farmers to protect Northern Ireland’s waterways.

DAERA added that the sessions have been developed to provide “clear, practical guidance by strengthening knowledge and promoting best practice to drive positive changes at farm level.”

CAFRE

Commenting on the training, Don Morrow, head of dairy, pigs, poultry and crops at Greenmount Campus said that the training “looks at the increasing importance of sustainable land management.”

“We discuss practical steps farmers can take to protect water bodies, including improved nutrient planning, precision application techniques, and measures to reduce diffuse pollution,” he added.

The training sessions form part of Northern Ireland’s wider Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP), which aims to support the transition towards more environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Within SAP, the Supporting Agri-Professionals Programme focuses on professional development and technical expertise for those working across the agricultural advisory sector.

CAFRE noted that this initiative is designed to equip agricultural advisors and consultants with up-to-date information and practical skills that can be shared with farm business to help deliver environmental outcomes.

Any agri-professional who is interested in attending the programme’s future events can find out more information on the business support area of CAFRE’s website.

DAERA

Meanwhile, plans to strengthen the enforcement and regulation of water pollution in Northern Ireland have been announced this week.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir recently told MLAs that Northern Ireland’s water environment is “facing mounting and unacceptable pressures”.

The minister said only 29% of surface waterbodies are achieving good ecological status and more than 20 million tonnes of untreated sewage and wastewater is spilling into waterways each year.

In a statement to the Assembly, Muir confirmed his proposal for Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to withdraw from the SORPI (Statement of Regulatory Principles and Intent) administrative arrangement with NI Water established in 2007, which “constrains regulatory enforcement action”.

He also announced he will bring forward a “Fisheries and Water Environment Bill in May 2026, modernising enforcement powers, adopting an ecosystem‑based approach, increasing the maximum fine for water pollution to £50,000 and introducing fixed penalty notices”.

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