The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has reminded farmers that nitrates derogation applications can now be submitted online and must be completed by the application deadline of 8 April 2020.

The Department statement highlighted that farmers who availed of a derogation in 2019 must also submit fertiliser accounts by 8 April 2020.

This leaves less than one month for approximately 12,000 livestock farmers who exceeded a stocking rate limit of 170kg organic nitrogen/ha in 2019 to decide on whether or not to apply for a derogation. From this group of 12,000 farmers, over 7,000 applied for a derogation, while in the region of 5,000 farms exported slurry to stay within the 170kg/ha organic limit.

New rules

A new suite of measures has been introduced for derogation farmers in 2020 and these have been covered in depth in recent weeks. These rules can be summarised as follows:

  • The protein content of concentrates fed to grazing livestock during the main grazing season (1 Apr to 15 Sep) must reduce to 16% in 2020 and 15% in 2021.
  • Derogation farmers must measure grass growth and record at least 20 measurements annually. Those not competent in measuring will need to complete a training course before the end of 2021.
  • Commonage or rough grazing will not be eligible for the derogation allowance of 250kg/ha livestock manure.
  • A liming programme must be implemented in 2020 and based on a current nutrient management plan (NMP) and associated soil analysis results.
  • Slurry remaining on the holding after 15 April 2020 must be spread by low emission slurry spreading (LESS) equipment and all slurry on the holding from 12 Jan 2021 must be spread by LESS equipment.
  • Farmers operating under a derogation in 2020 will be required to complete a training course encompassing nutrient management planning, water quality, emissions and biodiversity by the end of 2021.
  • Derogation farmers will be required to introduce clover into all reseeds in 2021 to help reduce nitrogen dependency.
  • To comply with the all-island pollinator plan, derogation farmers must leave at least one mature whitethorn or blackthorn tree within each 300m of hedgerow; or maintain hedgerows on a minimum three-year cycle.
  • Widening of rules

    The expert group which drew up the above rules also recommended that farmers stocked in excess of 170kg N/ha would also have to comply with a number of these environmental rules such as those listed for slurry spreading, the liming programme and reseeding.

    A Department spokesperson said: “While there are currently no new requirements for farmers stocked over 170kg N/ha, the recommendations of the expert group last year proposing changes to the requirement for both farmers in derogation and farmers exceeding 170kg/ha were accepted in full.

    “The proposed changes will be introduced in due course. However, those farmers may wish to consider applying for a derogation to allow them farm to the higher limit of 250kg/N/ha.”