I’m told some county councils are carrying out inspections on farms where farmers applied for permission to apply slurry after 15 October 2017.

The inspections include an assessment of slurry storage facilities and lands where slurry was applied after the prohibited spreading period.

They also want to know farm production data such as the number of livestock on the farm, volume of chemical fertilisers applied and volume of concentrates fed. The volume of organic fertiliser imported or exported is also being recorded.

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Six farmers had their 2017 BPS payments cut for spreading slurry in the closed period in 2016/2017, Department of Agriculture figures show.

The penalties ranged from 5% to 20% per farmer. Those 2017 inspections are being finalised and the outcome of reviews and appeals are being processed.