November 11th 2000

Tighter slurry rules in REPS 2

By Paul Mooney

FARMERS participating in the new REPS scheme will have to spread all slurry before October 1st each year.

This is just one of a number of changes introduced by the Department of Agriculture in the technical specifications of the new scheme. The Department also plans new vetting procedures for planners.

Slurry spreading will no longer be allowed between October 1 and January 31. Under the outgoing scheme there was no restriction with land conditions being the determining factor. In the new specifications imported slurry can not be spread after October 1 either but there is no restriction on spread of dairy washings or soiled water.

The new specifications will require new entrants to have animal housing facilities in place for the first winter period of the plan. In the outgoing scheme new entrants were in practice given greater time to carry out building work.

In a reversal of its earlier position the Department will accept commonage land declared for area aid for the first time in 1999 as eligible for REPS payments of up to £77 per acre. Also, leased commonage which was declared for area aid and which was subsequently purchased by the lessee will also be eligible.

Other changes are:

* there will be closer linkage between REPS and area aid applications. LPIS numbers will be used for REPS.

* chemical nitrogen levels must not exceed organic nitrogen. Permitted maximum levels of chemical and total nitrogen remain unchanged.

* higher levels of nitrogen allowed for sugar beet and potatoes. On index one soils maximum rises from 120 to 150kg per hectare for potatoes and from 120 to 160kg per hectare for sugar beet.

* sacrifice paddocks will not be allowed and poaching is prohibited. Outwintering of cattle will be subject to a maximum stocking level of one livestock unit per hectare depending on soil type and the outwintering areas must be specified.

* sale of a site of up to one hectare will not require amendment of a plan.

* rent of up to six hectares of additional land will not require amendment.

* changes to plans must be notified within six weeks and amended plans lodged before anniversary date.

* Late applications for payment will incur the same penalties as apply to area aid applications.

After meeting the Department last Friday on the scheme's specifications IFA deputy chairman John Dillon warned that the new farm waste management scheme must be introduced alongside the new REPS scheme. The new requirements on slurry storage and spreading will result in some farmers having to postpone their applications unless the new grant scheme is up and running, he said.

Rural development chairman Michael Bergin said that the changes relating to sale of a site and renting of additional land would reduce the need for farmers to amend REPS plans over the five year period of the scheme. He called for rapid introduction of the new scheme.

At Friday's meeting IFA expressed disappointment that earth bank lagoons and reed beds would not be accepted as slurry facilities in the new REPS scheme.

The Department indicated to IFA that under tighter vetting procedures all planners will have to reapply for approval. New planners must submit a plan prior to acceptance while plans will be selected at random for inspection to ensure plans are adequate.