A switch by farmers to using protected urea over coming years is seen by the Government as a key way of reducing greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from agriculture - and avoiding million euro fines. It would replace standard urea on tillage crops and CAN on grassland. It’s a key recommendation for agriculture in the Climate Change Action Plan published last week.

Research is being carried out at Teagasc Oak Park on all aspects of use of protected urea and information is on display today at the Crops & Spreaders Open Day there.

Teagasc researcher Cathal Buckley said that while tillage farming is already one of the lowest-emission farming systems there is still room for improvement. Tillage farmers, like everyone, will be asked to contribute to reduction of all emissions, he said.

His research colleague, Dominika Krol, said that protected urea can be used as a direct replacement for standard urea on tillage crops with no yield penalty. The fertiliser is already available in Ireland and some farmers are using it.

“When substituted directly for standard urea, there is the possibility of a huge reduction in the emission of ammonia,” she said. It is an air pollutant and can lead to eutrophication and health issues, and as a result ammonia emissions are regulated.

The fertiliser is a little more expensive per tonne than standard urea.