It looks increasingly inevitable that NI farmers will not be allowed to spread slurry with a tanker fitted with a splashplate at some point in the near future.

The expert working group, led by John Gilliland, which published its ‘‘making ammonia visible’’ report in December 2017, recommended a ban on the sale of tankers fitted with splashplates from 2020, ahead of an outright ban in 2025.

In its response to that report, DAERA has indicated that a ban will be included as a proposal in a public consultation on ammonia due later this year.

With scientific research indicating that using a dribble bar or a trailing shoe will reduce ammonia emissions by 26% and 57%, respectively, when compared with a splashplate, clearly there is a strong basis for implementing a ban.

There are also added benefits from less odour when slurry spreading, more nitrogen available for crop growth and less contamination of grass.

But there are also some downsides. While it will be possible to retrofit a dribble bar or trailing shoe onto the back of some tankers, many older models will effectively become redundant. There is also the cost of a retrofit, the risk of more blockages, and the extra weight on the back of the tanker, which is likely to mean more horsepower is required to haul the machine. Effectively, it means more expense for farmers.

In the ideal world of a government official, ground is dry throughout the whole slurry spreading season and contractors are on hand just when required.

In the real world, a tanker fitted with a splashplate and pulled by a 100hp tractor still has an important role on many smaller farms to manage slurry throughout the season. Taking that flexibility away will have little positive environmental impact. In fact, it might mean more slurry is spread when conditions are not ideal.

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