Livestock and tillage farmers face stricter rules and inspections, it has been revealed.

Up to 20,000 extra farmers could be forced to comply with the tough nitrates derogation regulations. This is because the Department of Agriculture is considering making all farmers stocked at more than 130kg N/ha operate under the derogation regime.

While 6,891 farmers availed of the derogation last year, an additional 17,000 were in the 130kg N/ha to 170kg N/ha bracket in 2017, and would be caught up in this wider net.

Meanwhile, Department inspectors will this year be looking for an even longer paper trail from farmers using sprayers.

“The European Commission was out on farms recently and completed an audit of the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) and there will be changes to the inspection requirements for 2019,” agriculture inspector David Ryan recently told farm advisers.

Records will be demanded from farmers on the water source, safeguard zones, filling area, leftover chemicals and washdown location.

Receipts confirming the disposal of washed containers and hazardous waste from the EPA and local authorities will be sought by inspectors from farmers.