Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2018
224. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the date of the requirement to have 50% of slurry spread will be extended in view of the fact that the cutting of silage will be significantly later due to the late spring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18375/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017, as amended, give legal effect in Ireland to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The Regulations focus, inter alia, on the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers.
In accordance with the requirements of these regulations, half of all slurry produced on a derogation farm must be applied by 15 June each year. After this date slurry may only be applied using low emission equipment.
Farmers are increasingly utilising their manures to greatest effect by applying a greater percentage in the Spring. The requirement referred to above encourages this trend. It also takes account of the fact that agriculture is responsible for 98% of ammonia emissions in Ireland and that the nitrogen loss to the atmosphere from slurry as a result of ammonia volatilisation is almost twice as high in the Summer as when slurry is applied in the Spring.
Slurry application by Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment reduces losses by 30% compared to application by splash-plate and the reduced ammonia losses result in increased nitrogen uptake by grass. These measures play an important role in improving efficiency and reducing nutrient losses to air and water on the more intensively stocked derogation farms.
I have no plans to vary the 15 June date.
