For any farmer applying for a nitrates derogation for the first time this year, the deadline to do so is 20 April 2018, with all applications to be made online.

For those who applied for a derogation in 2017, you are also required to submit fertiliser accounts online by 20 April 2018.

A derogation allows a farmer to spread higher amounts of livestock manure on their land than the standard limit of 170kg of nitrogen (N) per hectare per year.

Farmers who are granted a derogation are allowed to apply livestock manure up to a maximum of 250kg N/ha in accordance with their fertiliser plan. A derogation holding must have sufficient storage for all livestock manure and soiled water produced on the holding.

Any farmer in derogation is not permitted to import livestock manure into their holding. To be eligible for a derogation, at least 80% of the holding must be in grass.

A fertiliser plan must be in place for the farm from 1 March onwards and must be submitted with your derogation application, unless you have submitted a fertiliser plan to the Department in 2015, 2016 or 2017.

Farmers are also required to submit a farmyard sketch showing manure storage facilities and animal housing, unless a map has been submitted in 2015, 2016 or 2017.

Soil samples

For a fertiliser plan to be valid, it must be based on results from soil analysis dated after 15 September 2014. Where a new soil analysis is required, at least one sample per 5ha of land is required.

In changes to the conditions of derogation, farmers are now required to spread half of winter slurry by 15 June, with any slurry spread after this date to be spread with a low-emission system, such as a dribble bar or a ground injection machine.

Nitrogen and phosphorus (P) statements are available online each year on agfood.ie. These outline the quantities of N and P produced by your cattle only during 2017.

Sheep are not included and must be taken into account when calculating the total N and P produced.