Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
437. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a numerical breakdown, in tabular form, of the approximate herd sizes of, and hectares farmed by, the roughly 3,000 farmers affected by the reduction in the nitrates derogation limit to 220 kg per hectare; whether they are dairy or beef farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41125/23]
View answerThis year approximately 7,300 farmers applied for a Nitrates Derogation, which, subject to compliance with strict environmental conditions, allows application of up to 250kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare. The vast majority of those who apply for a Nitrates Derogation each year are dairy farmers.
The banding of dairy cow nutrient excretion rates from the start of this year represented a significant change for dairy farmers. This likely was the main contributing factor that resulted in the 10% increase in the number of farmers applying for a Nitrates Derogation this year. Many other farmers reacted by seeking additional land. Some of this was likely also in anticipation of the move to a maximum stocking rate of 220 kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare from 2024.
The figure of 3,000 farmers being impacted by the reduction in the derogation stocking rate limit, while widely quoted in the media, is only an estimate and the data sought is not available. The actual figure is not yet known and given the changes that have occurred this year for dairy farmers in particular, will only become visible after year end.
Last week, interim 2023 Nitrates Statements to the end of August became available combining farmer's 2023 land and cattle nutrient excretion data. This data will be used to develop modelling to provide a better understanding of the number of farmers that will likely be impacted by the move to a lower maximum derogation stocking rate of 220 kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare.
