Clampdown on derogation farmers

There is mounting evidence of a tough line being taken by the Department of Agriculture on nitrates derogation inspections.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a number of farmers have had their derogation status removed for this year and will be prevented from applying for the derogation next year as a result.

The breaches ranged from spreading slurry with a splash-plate to feeding 18% dairy ration during the summer when the protein limit is 15%.

Department sources accepted that the derogation regime is more onerous on farmers this year, but claimed that the tighter restrictions were necessary to secure EU clearance for the measure.

Officials also pointed to the fact that the inspection rate has been doubled under the current derogation, with 10% of farmers being checked.

Since there are more than 6,950 farmers in the nitrates derogation, this means that close to 700 holdings will be inspected.

While Department staff insisted that the rules were being enforced as per the derogation guidelines and that a degree of leeway would be shown to farmers, the Irish Farmers Journal understands that a strict interpretation of the regulations is being sought by the Department of Housing.

ICMSA recently met with the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture to highlight the potentially severe impact of the Nitrates Action Plan and derogation changes on dairy farms.

ICMSA president Pat McCormack said the tighter restrictions and the prescriptive nature of the rules were “gone way over the top”.

He called for a “bit of common sense” to be applied to the derogation regulations and restrictions.

Under the derogation, the farm limit for organic nitrogen has been increased from 170kg/ha to 250kg/ha.