Eleven farmers in NI received penalties to Basic Payments for spreading slurry during the closed period last winter, figures obtained from DAERA confirm.

Wet conditions last autumn meant more farmers had to avail of the exceptional circumstances provision within the NI Nitrates Action Programme, which can allow slurry to be spread between 15 October and 31 January.

Permission from the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) is not needed, however, records must be kept and the farmer able to demonstrate that they had no other option.

A DAERA spokesperson said that NIEA received reports of 140 incidents of slurry being spread during the 2017/18 closed period.

“Of these, 65 incidents were inspected and verified by NIEA, with 11 farm businesses being found to have breached regulations for slurry spreading during the closed period, resulting in a 3% penalty reduction in payment,” the spokesperson said.

The closed period for slurry spreading begins in NI at midnight on 15 October and ends at midnight on 31 January. The closed period for spreading farmyard manure does not begin until midnight on 31 October.

With dry conditions persisting throughout the summer and autumn, farmers spreading slurry during the closed period this year will find it more difficult to make a case to NIEA inspectors.

However, the provision in the Nitrates Action Programme is there for farmers if needed.

“NIEA consider exceptional circumstances on a case-by-case basis every year,” the DAERA spokesperson said.