There is a looming battle to secure another nitrates derogation from the EU as Irish farmers face into their most difficult review yet, a senior Department official has warned.

Ireland’s nitrates derogation is due to expire at the end of next year. A review process to renew the derogation is under way and it will be intensified in 2021 prior to negotiations with the European Commission.

Jack Nolan from the Department’s nitrates division told an Agricultural Science Association (ASA) webinar on Wednesday that of the four reviews he has been involved in, this one will be the hardest.

He believed the upper stocking limit for derogation farms of 250kg of nitrogen per hectare will come under huge pressure.

Water quality

Other countries and the Commission were looking at Ireland, Nolan said, particularly in the area of water quality. Nolan explained that while Ireland is among the top five EU countries for water quality, there had been consecutive declines in the last four years.

The derogation is based on higher stocking rates having no negative impact on water quality, he said.

Nolan suggested that every farmer should look to reduce their fertiliser use next year by at least one bag of CAN per acre.

Fencing

From 1 January 2021, any farm stocked at greater than 170kg of organic nitrogen per hectare will need to fence off all drains, streams and rivers on their farms under the Nitrates Action Programme.

Over 12,000 farmers will be affected by the change. All water troughs will also have to be moved back 20m from watercourses and cattle will only be allowed cross through the stream in exceptional circumstances, Teagasc has advised. A watercourse will include any waterbody or any drain that eventually leads to a waterbody. This includes any “dry” open drains on the farm that may or may not convey water, Teagasc said.

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