While the pig sector has seen prices recover this year, the removal of nitrates transitional arrangements presents a new challenge.

With many of Ireland’s pig farms concentrated in the counties of Cavan and Monaghan, manure will have to be transported longer distances, therefore adding significant cost for farmers.

As Odile Evans reports on page 18, the financial implications are significant at €2 per pig, or the equivalent of €50 per sow.

Tillage farmers importing the pig slurry also share a burden of this cost, but will not do so if it is less economical than artificial fertilisers. An obvious solution would be to relocate fattening units into tillage areas and transport the pig rather than the slurry.