As unusually mild temperatures continue, Fianna Fáil’s Jackie Cahill has written to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed asking him to lift the restrictions on slurry spreading.

Cahill said the ban must be lifted immediately “to allow farmers to make use of the unseasonably mild and dry weather which Ireland is experiencing at present.”

Currently, the spreading of slurry is prohibited until 12 January in Zone A, 15 January in Zone B and 31 January in Zone C. These controls are imposed by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government under the Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters regulation.

Exceptional measure

“As a result of the fodder crisis the Minister did step in last year and, as an exceptional measure, farmers were allowed to spread slurry for a fortnight longer than the deadlines set out under EU rules.

“I believe he must do the same again now and allow farmers the opportunity to boost grass growth for spring,” said Cahill.

Deputy Cahill added that it must be remembered that a lot of farmers are still feeling the effects of the extreme weather in 2018, which saw unprecedented snow in March and a summer drought.

“If 2019 were to follow in the same vein, then our farming community would be seriously disadvantaged. The Minister must bring forward the spreading date and he must do so immediately."

No plans

In a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing said; "The Minister [Eoghan Murphy] does not have any plans to make changes to the slurry spreading closed periods at present."