There has been widespread welcoming of the news that farmers will be allowed, as an exceptional measure, to spread slurry until the end of October this year.
The announcement was made by Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, following consultation with Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and taking account of poor weather conditions in particular during the month of September.
Minister Hogan said that farmers have expressed concerns to him about their ability to meet the October 15 deadline for spreading slurry, as laid down in the Nitrates Regulations. In recognition of this, the Minister believes that the extension now being given is necessary, as the adverse weather conditions experienced in Ireland, during September in particular, have caused significant hardship for farmers and have made it extremely difficult to carry out regular farming activity.
“The high rainfall levels have meant that many farmers, mindful of the requirements of best practice in relation to spreading slurry, have struggled to complete their normal land spreading operations before the start of the prohibited period on October 15.
“This two-week extension will allow farmers an opportunity, weather and ground conditions permitting, to complete land spreading activities that for reasons outside of their control have been curtailed during late August and throughout September, owing to the exceptional weather conditions that we have experienced.”
Castlebar town councillor Ger Deere, who has been in contact with the two relevant ministers in relation to this issue, has welcomed the announcement, along with Ballina TD Michelle Mulherin who has welcomed the swift action now being taken to resolve the problem.
According to Deputy John O’Mahony the extension will provide Mayo farmers with a “wonderful opportunity”.
The minister has stressed that his announcement represents an extension of time only. All land spreading activity is conditional on weather and ground conditions being suitable as set out in the Nitrates Regulations. Livestock manures or any fertilisers may not be land spread when, for example, land is waterlogged, flooded or likely to flood, frozen or if heavy rain is forecast within 48 hours. Buffer zones are specified for different kinds of water bodies and fertilisers may not be applied within those buffer zones. In addition, the absolute prohibition on land spreading during the months of November and December remains.
