The Nitrates Derogation is a vital facility allowing in the region of 7,000 farmers to exceed the organic nitrogen limit of 170kg/ha and farm to an upper limit of 250kg organic N/ha. As part of the approvals process, farmers must submit an up-to-date fertiliser plan and submit annual fertiliser accounts before 31 March each year for the preceding year.

For example, farmers are required to submit fertiliser accounts for 2019 before 31 March 2020. Plans must include the following elements:

  • The crop rotation plan, which must specify the area (ha) of parcels with grass and parcels with other crops including a sketch map indicating the location of parcels.
  • The number of livestock, a description of the housing and storage system, including the volume of manure storage available and a farmyard sketch.
  • A calculation of manure N and P produced on the holding.
  • The amount, type and characteristics of manure delivered outside the farm or to the farm;
  • The foreseeable N and P crop requirements for each parcel.
  • The results of soil analysis related to N and P soil status if available.
  • The nature of the fertilisers to be used.
  • A calculation of N and P from manure over each field.
  • A calculation of nitrogen and phosphorus application from chemical and other fertilisers over each field

    • The terms and conditions also state that where any changes to agricultural activity take place, the plan must be revised no later than seven days following the changes to ensure consistency between the plan and the agricultural practice.

    Soil analysis must be updated at least every four years with one sample covering a maximum of four hectares of land. To get an accurate reading, samples should not be taken where organic manures or chemical phosphorus or potassium fertiliser has been applied in the previous three-month period.

    Samples should be taken in a W shape taking care to avoid areas that are uncharacteristic of the field such as supplementary feeding points, gate entry points etc.