In December 2017, Ireland secured a renewal of our nitrates derogation for the period 2018 – 2021 on the basis of a strengthened set of water protection measures. This contrasts with a number of other EU member states which have had severe difficulties in negotiating a successful renewal of their derogations and who have faced significant delays or have secured a reduced term in their derogation approval. The achievement of securing the renewal of the derogation is a significant milestone in the context of an expanding dairy herd and increasing milk production. While there are some additional stipulations attached to the derogation these are the outcome of a year long negotiations with the Commission and two separate public consultations. It was important when seeking the renewal that Ireland demonstrated commitment to tackling agricultural impacts on water.
The measures in Ireland’s derogation take account of the growing numbers of derogation farmers who are farming at intensive stocking rates (increasing from over 4,000 to 7,000 in recent years), and also environmental objectives for water, climate change and ammonia which Ireland must achieve. Furthermore, opportunities for large savings on farms through better grassland management and improved timing and application of fertiliser have been taken into account.
Under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive, Ireland must also reduce its ammonia emissions with agriculture responsible for 98% of ammonia emissions. Ammonia losses from slurry are significantly reduced by slurry application in the Springtime and also by using low emission slurry spreading (LESS) equipment. Consequently the timeframes for slurry application stipulated in this measure will be effective in reducing ammonia losses. The new measure will assist farmers to deliver their production targets, reduce their greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions and reduce the risk of runoff to water quality.
I wish to acknowledge that weather conditions have been challenging and this has created difficulties for some farmers in spreading slurry. Increasingly however farmers are maximising the value of slurry through Spring application.
In order to help farmers with the purchase of LESS equipment, support is provided under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme known as TAMS II is, subject to the terms and conditions of the Scheme, at a general grant rate of 40% rising to 60% for qualifying Young Farmers. The maximum amount of investment eligible for grant aid under the LESS measure is generally €40,000 per holding. It is also worth noting that the investment ceiling under this measure is, uniquely among all TAMS II measures, not subject to the overall TAMS II investment ceiling of €80,000 per holding. The TAMS II LESS Scheme has been very popular with over 980 approvals now issued for LESS equipment. Under the LESS Scheme and the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II the processing of applications for the supply of this equipment will continue until 31 December 2020.
