Hundreds of farmers have arrived outside the constituency offices of Ministers Simon Coveney and Michael McGrath in Carrigaline to demonstrate against changes to the nitrates derogation.
They are demanding an extension to the start-date of new regulations or say they will be forced to cull pregnant cows.
Farmers claim that they were only informed this November that they have to cut their herd sizes by the 1st of January - meaning their only option will be to cull animals - however many of their cows are already heavily in calf.
Speaking to RedFM News, John Murphy from the IFA in Cork says it's a terrible time of year to announce these rules:
"We are in a seasonal calving system in this country. And all our decisions for the following year are made mid-season the previous year. So now we find ourselves with too many pregnant animals waiting to calve down in six weeks time or two months time in the spring. We're suggesting that we need some sort of stay on this thing, so that we can farm our way out of it. And these animals be allowed to calf have their milk for the milk season, and then be disposed of in an orderly fashion towards the end of 2024".
