Mayo Deputy Michael Ring has called on the Government and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to extend the slurry spreading deadline beyond October 15.
The deadline this year is too restrictive on farmers who were prevented from spreading slurry during the summer months due to the prolonged rain and soft ground conditions, according to Dep Ring.
He added: “It is only now that the land is becoming more suitable for the spreading of slurry but farmers are pushed for time with the October 15 deadline. The calendar deadline does not take into account weather conditions or land conditions, so in fact it is not in the best interests of farming.
“With the high costs of fodder this year, farmers still need the land for grazing animals at this present time. If slurry is spread now just to make the imposed deadline, animals will have to be taken off the fields.
“Farming has been hit hard enough this year, without the imposition of a slurry spreading deadline which does not take into account the weather, the land conditions, or grazing needs.
“I believe the Minister should postpone the slurry spreading deadline and thereby reduce the extra cost of fodder for hard-pressed farmers,” concluded Dep Ring.
