Every year, approximately 1,000 farmers receive penalties for failing to comply with the nitrates regulations.

Penalties are calculated on the level of annual nitrogen produced per hectare and start at 1% for a breach between 170kg and 180kg organic nitrogen and rising to 3% from 181kg to 210kg, 5% from 211kg to 250kg and 20% over 250kg.

For derogation farmers, the penalty is 5% for breaching 250kg organic nitrogen and 20% for exceeding 300kg/ha.

The Department updates a farmer’s annual nitrogen and phosphorus (N and P) production periodically with the information accessible through its agfood facility. The latest records are to the end of May, but more up-to-date figures will be released in the coming weeks.

For non-derogation farmers who are at risk of exceeding the 170kg/ha limit, there are a number of options. They can export slurry, with now being the perfect time to act. Reducing livestock numbers or temporary movement of animals or short-term grazing agreements can also help.

Remember to claim credit for animals grazing on another farm, the necessary paperwork must be completed in advance of movement and submitted to the nitrates section in Johnstwon Castle, Co Wexford, by post or by email (nitrates@agriculture.gov.ie).

Farmers should be aware that these statements do not take into account the volume of N and P produced by sheep or goats on the holding or other grazing and non-grazing animals.

Figures submitted in the annual sheep and goat census are used by the Department for calculating the volumes produced.

Where the sheep census figure is likely to overestimate the level of N and P produced, farmers can calculate a more accurate estimate by taking the average number and type of sheep held on the first day of each quarter going by records in your flock register. The level of nitrogen produced by different classes of sheep are as follows: 13kg for lowland ewes, 7kg for mountain ewes, 9kg for rams, 6kg for lowland hoggets, 4kg for mountain hoggets and 2.4kg for store lambs.