Madam, - I read with dismay the letter from Con O'Rourke (May 26th), who argues the case for spreading nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus on the land. Having observed the steady eutrophication of our waterways over the past 20 years, the fisherman in me is disappointed, while the chemist is frustrated.
When will we get the message across that excess fertilizer costs the farmer money and the fish their lives? Standing on a bridge last night, I observed a common sight in our rivers today: algae oozing along the water surface, with submerged weeds cloaked in brown goo and the riparian growth choked.
As well as spreading fertiliser and slurry right up to the river bank, washing sprayers and spreaders in public along what farmers consider "drains" is common practice. there was one One good thing came from the 2001 foot-and-mouth crisis: our rivers returned to their previous state for a brief, but glorious summer. If that does not make the case for reducing fertiliser spreading, I don't know what will.- Yours, etc.,
GERALD FITZGIBBON,
Ballylinan,
Athy,
Co Kildare.