A number of radical approaches have been suggested by environmental groups in meetings with DAERA and other stakeholders, ahead of a draft action plan expected later this year on the problem of ammonia emissions from local agriculture.

Some of the ideas put forward include de-stocking, preventing expansion of intensive farms, a protein tax on feed and acidification of slurry. However, it is understood that none of these are likely to appear in the draft plan when it is put out for industry views.

Despite that, there will still be various measures that will lead to significant changes within local agriculture. The Making Ammonia Visible report by an expert group led by Dr John Gilliland has already suggested banning the sale of new tankers fitted with splash plates from 2020, ahead of a total ban in 2025. However, sources indicate that there is significant pressure to bring these dates forward. It is possible that the changeover to using trailing shoe or band spreaders is phased in, starting with the spreading of digestate from anaerobic digesters.

Other proposals being discussed include banning the use of urea, in favour of stabilised urea fertiliser, and bringing large dairy farms under the same bureaucratic IPPC requirements that exist for large pig and poultry units..

There is also likely to be a significant emphasis put on encouraging farmers to extend the grazing season, maintain clean yards, lower crude protein content of diets, undertake annual nutrient management plans and plant more trees.

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