Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy has said he does “not have any plans to make changes to the slurry spreading deadline” of 15 October.

Minister Murphy was responding to a parliamentary question from Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath this week.

Challenging conditions

“While acknowledging the challenging weather conditions experienced during certain periods this year, including in recent weeks, I do not have any plans to make changes to the slurry spreading deadline.

“However, I will continue to keep this matter under review in consultation with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,” he said.

The provisions of the regulations are underpinned by scientific research and good agricultural practice

He said that the closed periods for land application of fertiliser in Ireland were decided following extensive consultation and were discussed with farming bodies and the European Commission as Ireland introduced the nitrates action programme.

“The provisions of the regulations are underpinned by scientific research and good agricultural practice.

"The most recent scientific studies carried out on a diverse range of farm and soil types as part of Teagasc’s ongoing agricultural catchments programme have provided further evidence in support of regulating spreading periods as an effective means of reducing nutrient losses to waters,” he said.

Extension

The IFA has called for the deadline of 15 October to be extended, with president Joe Healy calling on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to extend the deadline.

Healy said some farms had been unable to spread slurry for the past number of weeks and in some cases months due to poor weather and ground conditions.

“This is causing extreme distress and adding to what has been a challenging year for many farmers, particularly in the livestock sector,” he said on Wednesday.

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