The number of farms in NI operating under a derogation for increased allowance for manure nitrogen loading from livestock has increased from 230 farm businesses in 2015 to 297 this year.

Under the Nitrates Action Programme, farm businesses can apply each year for an increased nitrogen loading limit from the standard 170kgN/ha/year to 250kgN/ha/year under derogation.

A report released by DAERA last week shows that the predicted average nitrogen loading on derogated farms in 2016 is 216kgN/ha/year, up from 206kgN/ha/year in 2015.

Across NI, 3.04% of grassland is covered by derogation. The report divides NI into 31 sub-catchments with the sub-catchment between Holywood and Bangor recording the highest percentage of grassland under derogation at 22.45%.

Seven applications for derogations were rejected in 2016; four applications were after the 1 March deadline, two farm businesses had nitrogen loading over 250kgN/ha/year and one did not meet the 80% grassland area requirement.

The report also monitors water quality in NI and states that nitrate concentrations in surface fresh waters and groundwaters remain “relatively low” and “generally low”, respectively.

However, the main problem for NI is with phosphate in watercourses. While 85.8% of recording stations in rivers were classed with high or good status, in the middle and eastern parts of NI, the majority of catchments were classed as moderate.