Stricter slurry rules for derogation farmers from 1 January

From January 2018, farmers who applied for a nitrates derogation will have to comply with stricter rules when it comes to spreading slurry under Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme (NAP).

Caitríona Morrissey

6 December 2017

Stricter slurry rules for derogation farmers from 1 January

Derogation farmers will have to spread at least 50% of their slurry before 15 June 2018 and after this date any remaining slurry will have to be spread using low-emission equipment.

Stricter rules on slurry spreading will come into force next year for derogation farmers. There will be a clampdown on farmers expanding stock numbers before sufficient extra storage is in place. The renewal of a nitrates derogation for Ireland is on track, having been supported in a formal vote by the EU Nitrates Management Committee in Brussels, comprising representatives from of member states on Monday.

Stricter rules on slurry spreading will come into force next year for derogation farmers. There will be a clampdown on farmers expanding stock numbers before sufficient extra storage is in place.

The renewal of a nitrates derogation for Ireland is on track, having been supported in a formal vote by the EU Nitrates Management Committee in Brussels, comprising representatives from of member states on Monday.

Along with the previously announced measures for the latest Nitrates Action Programme, it is expected to receive final approval from the Commission and be signed into law here in Ireland before the end of the year.

From next year, farmers on derogation farms must apply 50% of all slurry by 15 June. After this date, slurry may only be applied using low-emission equipment.

Additionally, derogation farmers must have sufficient storage for all livestock manure and soiled water produced on the holding.

Extra stock

Investing in extra stock before necessary storage is in place will not be acceptable.

The new nitrates plan also includes increased phosphorus limits for low-index soils, a concession to allow October chemical fertiliser application on winter cereal crops, and a three-year lead-in to ensure there is no run-off from farm roadways.

IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney welcomed the derogation renewal, “particularly in the light of two countries, Holland and Denmark, losing their derogations”.

Holland must cull 200,000 cows to regain its derogation, and it has already culled more than 50,000 dairy cows to comply with phosphorous limits.

New rules

But Cooney pointed out that the new rules on low-emission spreading will cost farmers derogation significantly in either higher contractor bills or machinery costs to upgrade their own slurry equipment. A 2,000-gallon tank with dribble bar costs in the region of €25,000, with a TAMS grant of just 40% available to farmers.

Cooney called for increased funding and accelerated capital write-offs to cut down the cost of new equipment for derogation farmers complying with the new rules, and for contractors to be eligible for TAMS grants for slurry equipment purchase.

He added that the IFA has secured a commitment from the Department that the transitional arrangements for pig slurry, which had expired at the end of 2016, will be extended through to 2021.

ICMSA president John Comer said the renewal of Ireland’s nitrates derogation was a “huge boost to our dairy farmers and testament to the negotiating skills of the officials responsible”.

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