Longford Environmental Officer Gary Brady is asking farmers to be patient for another few weeks regarding the burning of agricultural waste.
It follows the ending of an exemption which had allowed farmers to burn trees or bushes gathered from land clearing, but only as a last resort.
Farmers had been able to apply from a special permit from local councils to carry out the work, but that can't happen anymore following the end of the exemption on January 1st this year.
The move is being strongly criticised as leaving farmers with no option other than to hire mulchers which would be cost prohibitive.
Gary Brady who is Environmental Awareness Officer with Longford Council says he hopes officials from the Department of Agriculture and Dept of the Environment are working on an alternative solution right now.
He says the local authorities and farmers have been left in a very difficult situation and clarity is urgently needed.
