The end of the transitional arrangements for phosphorus, under the Nitrates Programme, will mean that pig and poultry farmers will need access to more land on which to spread these manures next year.

The transitional arrangements, which have been in place for the last decade, allow animal manures to be applied at higher than the official crop requirement levels.

Once the changes come into effect from 1 January, it will no longer be legal to apply more than the total recommended P rate for any use. The change may also affect other livestock farms that have high soil phosphorus levels at index four, as they will no longer be able to apply organic phosphorus.

Teagasc has estimated that pig farmers will need 30% to 50% more land for slurry, while poultry farmers will require 12% to 25% more.

This is because a bigger application footprint will be required when the application rates are reduced to meet off-take and fertility building allowances.

A full review of the Nitrates Regulations is scheduled to take place next year.

The IFA is calling for the current phosphorus transitional arrangements to be extended, so that their eventual discontinuation can be negotiated within the scope of the full review. This is on the basis of introducing additional measures to encourage the use of organic fertilisers.

The legislation change does not apply to the nitrates derogation, which will remain in place next year.

Additional reporting by Andy Doyle.

Editorial: Pig farmers need 50% more land for slurry

Pig farmers need 50% more land for slurry

From the start of 2017, the transitional arrangements for phosphorous will end, meaning that a larger land footprint will be needed to dispose of animal manures, predominantly pig and poultry.