The impeding requirement for farms stocked above 170kg N/ha fence watercourses and prohibit access for cattle has left many farmers frustrated at the lack of information and support.
From 1 January, all derogation farms and those exporting slurry to remain below 170kg N/ha will be required to place a fence at least 1.5m from the top of the riverbank or water’s edge. Drinking troughs must also be setback 20m.
The requirement will apply to all watercourses that are visible on an Ordinance Survey Ireland (OSi) map at the scale of 1:5000.
Blue lines
These watercourses can be identified on the map as a continuous blue line, senior Department official Bernard Harris told an IFA nitrates webinar on Thursday. Dashed blue lines do not need to be fenced.
There are also new requirements for all farms to adjust farm roadways if necessary to avoid runoff into any water body, which includes dry drains as well as watercourses.
An example of an OSi map at a scale of 1:5000. If a farm is in derogation or stocked above 170kg N/ha and exporting slurry, the solid blue lines on the map must be fenced. The dashed blue lines do not need to be fenced. \ OSi
A number of farmers aired their frustrations around the new requirements, including access to the OSi maps, the limited time frame to comply with the regulation and the prospect of inspections.
Harrison admitted that due to a delay in securing an amendment as to what constituted a watercourse, there wasn’t full clarity around the new requirements until November.
Frustrations
Tony Mullins, a farmer from Mitchellstown, Co Cork, said farmers had only become aware of the new requirements in recent weeks, while many were still unaware of them.
He suggested that inspections be delayed for the first six months of the year to allow the work to take place on farms.
He said where issues were identified, farmers should be given time to correct them before being penalised.
Neilus O’Connor said farmers were having trouble accessing the OSi maps, with many under the impression that the maps had to be purchased.
He asked that they be made freely available to ensure farmers could check their compliance with the regulations.
Harrison said that the maps did not have to be purchased and could be viewed online for free. However, farmers expressed difficulties with navigating and viewing the OSi’s website.
Concern
IFA president Tim Cullinan said he was “concerned” with much of what he had heard: “The maps aren’t available to farmers, the regulations weren’t signed off until November and the message that has to go back to the Department is we can’t have inspections on this early in the spring.”
He said without some leeway, farmers would not be able to cope.
The impeding requirement for farms stocked above 170kg N/ha fence watercourses and prohibit access for cattle has left many farmers frustrated at the lack of information and support.
From 1 January, all derogation farms and those exporting slurry to remain below 170kg N/ha will be required to place a fence at least 1.5m from the top of the riverbank or water’s edge. Drinking troughs must also be setback 20m.
The requirement will apply to all watercourses that are visible on an Ordinance Survey Ireland (OSi) map at the scale of 1:5000.
Blue lines
These watercourses can be identified on the map as a continuous blue line, senior Department official Bernard Harris told an IFA nitrates webinar on Thursday. Dashed blue lines do not need to be fenced.
There are also new requirements for all farms to adjust farm roadways if necessary to avoid runoff into any water body, which includes dry drains as well as watercourses.
An example of an OSi map at a scale of 1:5000. If a farm is in derogation or stocked above 170kg N/ha and exporting slurry, the solid blue lines on the map must be fenced. The dashed blue lines do not need to be fenced. \ OSi
A number of farmers aired their frustrations around the new requirements, including access to the OSi maps, the limited time frame to comply with the regulation and the prospect of inspections.
Harrison admitted that due to a delay in securing an amendment as to what constituted a watercourse, there wasn’t full clarity around the new requirements until November.
Frustrations
Tony Mullins, a farmer from Mitchellstown, Co Cork, said farmers had only become aware of the new requirements in recent weeks, while many were still unaware of them.
He suggested that inspections be delayed for the first six months of the year to allow the work to take place on farms.
He said where issues were identified, farmers should be given time to correct them before being penalised.
Neilus O’Connor said farmers were having trouble accessing the OSi maps, with many under the impression that the maps had to be purchased.
He asked that they be made freely available to ensure farmers could check their compliance with the regulations.
Harrison said that the maps did not have to be purchased and could be viewed online for free. However, farmers expressed difficulties with navigating and viewing the OSi’s website.
Concern
IFA president Tim Cullinan said he was “concerned” with much of what he had heard: “The maps aren’t available to farmers, the regulations weren’t signed off until November and the message that has to go back to the Department is we can’t have inspections on this early in the spring.”
He said without some leeway, farmers would not be able to cope.
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