IFA Countryside Chairman Brian Rushe has welcomed the decision by the Heritage Minister Josepha Madigan to revoke the initial Wild Birds State Wide Declaration for the period 1 May 2020 to 30 April 2021.

Following a recent meeting with the NPWS on the issue, IFA submitted  a detailed document https://www.ifa.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Wood-Pidgeon-Derogation.pdf, which highlighted the need to reverse the decision relating to woodpigeon control.

Brian Rushe said wood pigeons can cause serious damage to crops at any stage of the season. It is important that farmers are allowed to control the bird because of the threat to a broad range of cereal, legume and vegetable crops throughout the twelve months of the year.