Last Tuesday’s British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB) sale was described as possessing greater demand, with a 75% clearance of the 2.16m kilos offered. However, average prices eased by 4p/kg to £1.01/kg (€1.30/kg), due partly to a much wider range of wool present, with better colour and micron wools described by the BWMB as selling particularly well.

This brings the season’s cumulative price down 1p/kg to £1.17/kg, which means when costs of 30p/kg to 35p/kg are subtracted, the price returned to the farmer will be in the region of €0.97/kg to €1.02/kg, provided prices do not slip any more to the end of the season. There is very small volumes moving at present in Ireland, with the exception of farmers clearing sheds before lambing. Prices here remain unchanged, ranging from 90c/kg to 95c/kg for good-quality lowland wool, while scotch wool continues to trade for 30c/kg to 40c/kg.

2017 Nitrates Derogation open

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed announced on Monday that 2017 Nitrates Derogation applications can now be submitted online (no postage applications accepted). Almost 7,000 intensively stocked farmers availed of the derogation in 2016 and the Department advises that the online system is aimed at simplifying the application process in order to avoid penalties. The closing date is 31 March 2017. End-of-year nitrogen and phosphorus statements are available on www.agfood.ie. Farmers should assess if applying is the best option or alternatively explore the avenues of exporting organic fertilisers or taking on extra land. More info at www.farmersjournal.ie.

DAFM Nitrates Derogation notes

The Nitrates Derogation allows farmers to exceed the limit of 170kg of livestock manure nitrogen (N) per hectare set down in the nitrates regulations, up to a maximum of 250kg/ha, subject to adherence to stricter rules. For a Nitrates Derogation application to be valid, all terms and conditions of the derogation must be adhered to, including the following:

  • An annual application must be made online to the Department. No postal applications will be accepted.
  • Farming a holding that is at least 80% grass. Have grazing livestock – derogation is only available in respect of grazing livestock.
  • Have a fertilisation plan in place on the holding by 1 March. This plan should be submitted to the Department along with the application form unless the farmer has submitted a fertiliser plan to the Department in 2014, 2015 or 2016.
  • Fertiliser plans must be based on soil analysis results dated after 15 September 2013.
  • Applicants who have never previously applied for a derogation, or last applied in 2012 or earlier, and do not have soil analysis results must assume Index 3 for 2017, but soil sample analysis, in respect of crop year 2018, must be available and the fertiliser plan amended accordingly and submitted online to the Department before 31 March 2018.
  • Fertiliser accounts must be submitted to the Department no later than 31 March of the following year.
  • Farmers in derogation cannot import livestock manure.

    • Derogation documentation is available on the Department’s website at www.agriculture.gov.ie/ruralenvironment/environmentalobligations/nitrates/nitratesderogation/2017derogationforms/.