After a week of historic rainfall, farmers are demanding an extension to the slurry deadline.

Farmers in the southwest endured up to 200mm (7in) of rain over a 24-hour period between Monday and Tuesday.

While those further up the west coast had to deal with lesser amounts, land is saturated and unable to carry slurry tankers.

Last week, www.farmersjournal.ie exclusively reported that the Government has no immediate plans to push out the slurry deadline date but farmers still remain hopeful of movements.

The IFA, the ICMSA, Macra and ICSA as well as politicians from the opposition benches, have spoken in unison looking for the Government to extend the deadline past next week. Farmers must have all slurry spread before Saturday 15 October.

IFA environment chairman Thomas Cooney has called on the Department of Agriculture to treat farmers fairly this winter, and ensure that no farmer endures a Basic Payment penalty if they need to take necessary manure management steps during the winter due to animal welfare concerns.

The decision lies with former minister for agriculture Simon Coveney in the ministry of housing, planning, community and local government and not the Department of Agriculture on whether the deadline will be extended. Despite a mostly dry week ahead, farmers in the western half of the country are demanding flexibility to spread should weather conditions improve through the closed period.

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Wet weather hampering slurry progress