This Sunday, 14 September marks the start of the closed period for chemical fertiliser application in Ireland. Farmers won’t be permitted to spread nitrogen or phosphorus again until the end of January/middle of February, depending on their location.

Farms located in zone A, which includes Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow, can’t apply chemical fertiliser until 27 January 2026.

The earliest date in which farmers in zone B, which consists of counties Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath, can spread is 30 January. Farmers located in the zone C counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan cannot spread chemical fertilisers containing N or P until the season opens on 15 February 2026. Lime and straight potassium (potash) products can be spread all year round.

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On 1 October, the closed period for slurry will kick in for all farmers. Farmers in zone A can spread slurry again from 13 January 2026, in zone B from 16 January and in zone C from 1 February. Meanwhile, farmers must have farmyard manure applied before 1 November this winter.