Farmers are facing compulsory fertiliser limits and mandatory use of low-emission slurry spreading (LESS) techniques to meet climate targets.

A Department of Agriculture internal document seen by the Irish Farmers Journal, shows that the Department is seriously considering new measures for fertiliser, LESS and Knowledge Transfer (KT).

It is also pushing for 25% of all straw in the country to be incorporated in the straw chopping scheme – a move that would wipe nearly 2m straw bales from the marketplace for dairy, suckler and sheep farmers by 2030.

Regulations would also include reducing the use of CAN and increasing nitrogen efficiency with the compulsory use of lime.

Initial Department assessment would indicate that achievement of approximately half of this is conditional on additional actions

The document reveals concern at senior Department level that farmers will not voluntarily take up measures to reduce emissions under the Teagasc marginal abatement cost curve (MACC) in time to meet upcoming climate bill targets.?

“The MACC curve (Teagasc) identifies potential for over 17mt CO2eq savings to 2030,” the document says.

“Initial Department assessment would indicate that achievement of approximately half of this is conditional on additional actions, eg cap on livestock numbers and/or significant behavioural changes and therefore challenging to deliver. There will be a need to put in place further support measures/regulatory requirements to deliver the MACC measures.”

The document also reveals plans to pay farmers to include clover in their swards, with an expectation that 25% of beef farmers and 15% of dairy farmers will take up the offer, and incentivise sexed semen on farms.

KT measures are also discussed with a potential grassland management plan to be rolled out for farmers across 1m acres of land.