Almost 2,000 farmers were sanctioned for breaches of the nitrates regulations in 2015.

In total, 1921 farmers breached the nitrates stocking rate limits in 2015. Every one of them received a penalty in 2016. Almost one third lost more than 5% of their basic payment.

It also emerged that one quarter of farms inspected by local authorities under Nitrates Two are derogation farms. About 7,000 farms applied for the derogation last year. Over 600 were inspected, out of a total of 3,011 inspections.

IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney encouraged all farmers to ensure that they do not incur unnecessary penalties through breaching the nitrates limits, and to apply for the derogation where necessary.

Derogation application numbers have almost doubled since its introduction in 2007, with 7,000 applying in 2016.

IFA questions level of inspections

The IFA has questioned the sheer volume of on-farm inspections under the nitrates directive.

In a meeting with both Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and Simon Coveney Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, on Wednesday morning, the IFA stressed the need for more focus on working with farmers to achieve compliance.

Anecdotal evidence would suggest that this is happening effectively in some local authorities, though not others.

The IFA is proposing a rolling average be used across, perhaps, three years to calculate Nitrates N and P.

“A famer might be slightly over in a calendar year, incurring an automatic penalty, but be well under the limit in the years on either side,” IFA president Joe Healy said.

Healy emphasised the importance of securing a continuation of the nitrates derogation. “I also highlighted the situation of pig and poultry farmers, following the discontinuation of the transitional arrangements for phosphorus calculation from pig slurry and poultry manure.

“The IFA is asking that derogation farmers be allowed to import organic fertiliser, and for a simpler method of P calculation.”

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