Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
478. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with nitrates banding and the reduction from 250kg to 220kg p/h, to ensure that farmers are provided monthly figures on their organic nitrogen position; and if he will make a decision on the matter. [22550/24]
View answerSince 2020, my Department has issued farmers with online interim organic bovine Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) statements at regular intervals.
To provide the most accurate figures, regarding the bovine N and P on a per hectare basis for each holding, these statements combine multiple sets of data that include;
The number of animals on the holding each day within each bovine category for the period in question;
Where applicable, the nutrient excretion rate band assigned to dairy cows in the herd for the year in question;
The land area declared on the herdowner's Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme application for the year in question; and
Where applicable, the organic manure movements onto and/or off the holding as declared and verified to my Department for the period in question.
With the introduction of dairy excretion rate banding, it is no longer possible to calculate these figures accurately until such time as the bands have been confirmed and the area declared under BISS for the year in question is stable.
I appreciate the importance of this data and it is a priority of my department to ensure that the figures are released as soon as is feasible and as regularly as possible thereafter.
My Department is willing to explore further options with the objective of improving this service to farmers. I believe this will best be done through discussion at the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group that I established last year involving all the main farming organisations.
