In order to avoid penalties, farmers can export slurry during the year to less intensively stocked farms, or rent extra land and submit the appropriate forms to the Department of Agriculture. Another option is monitoring livestock numbers throughout the year and reducing them where there is a risk of exceeding the limit.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Department is calling on all farmers who exported slurry, rented extra land, or temporarily moved cattle to another holding, to submit the appropriate forms by 31 December. Forms should be sent to the nitrates section, Johnstown Castle, Wexford .

Tools

Farmers likely to exceed the stocking rate limit should have received a text message showing their stocking rate to the end of October 2016. Farmers who are unsure about their position should contact their local agricultural adviser or the nitrates section at 053-9163444.

To register a mobile phone number for future SMS text alerts, log on to https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/mobileupdates/ to access the sign-on form.

All farmers can view their N&P statements at www.agfood.ie. Farmers not already registered can do so by logging on to www.agfood.ie and clicking the ‘Register’ button.

If a herdowner does not have access to online or SMS text alert notification services, the interim N&P statements can be obtained from the Department’s Nitrates Section, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, at 053-9163444.

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