Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2119. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers qualifying for nitrates derogation scheme; and the number of additional cattle in the national herd as a result of the nitrates derogation. [41024/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder S.I. 113 of 2022, the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2022, the amount of livestock manure applied in any year to land on a holding, together with that deposited to land by livestock, shall not exceed 170kg of nitrogen per hectare, or the limit of 250kg of nitrogen per hectare for those who hold an approved Nitrates Derogation. In all cases, a maximum limit of 50kg of nitrogen per hectare applies to commonage.
The number of farmers that availed of a Nitrates Derogation in 2021 currently stands at 6,814. Compliance with the Nitrates Derogation is verified in arrears as derogation applicants have the full year to farm and have until the closing date for application in the following year to submit supporting documentation to allow my Department verify their compliance.
Checks for compliance in 2021 with the Nitrates Regulations, including the Nitrates Derogation, are still ongoing.
Applicants who fail to meet certain Terms and Conditions can not avail of the Nitrates Derogation so the number of farmers that availed of a Nitrates Derogation in a particular year can only be confirmed once all checks for that year have been completed.
The total number of bovines on the Nitrates Derogation farms in 2021 was 1,749,437.
It is not possible to determine the number of additional cattle in the national herd as a result of the Nitrates Derogation, as different nutrient excretion rates are assigned to different livestock categories. These different excretion rates combine to determine each farm's final stocking rate for the year.
Separately derogation and non-derogation farmers can export organic manure to reduce their stocking rate and comply with the limits set out above.
Annual nutrient excretion rates for livestock.
|
Livestock type |
Total Nitrogen |
Total Phosphorus |
|
kg/year |
kg/year |
|
|
Dairy cow[1] (2022 only) |
89 |
13 |
|
Dairy cow band 1[2] (from 2023) |
80 |
13 |
|
Dairy cow band 2[3] (from 2023) |
92 |
13 |
|
Dairy cow band 3[4] (from 2023) |
106 |
13 |
|
Suckler cow |
65 |
10 |
|
Cattle (0-1 year old) |
24 |
3 |
|
Cattle (1-2 years old) |
57 |
8 |
|
Cattle > 2 years |
65 |
10 |
|
Mountain ewe & lambs |
7 |
1 |
|
Lowland ewe & lambs |
13 |
2 |
|
Mountain hogget |
4 |
0.6 |
|
Lowland hogget |
6 |
1 |
|
Goat |
9 |
1 |
|
Horse (>3 years old) |
50 |
9 |
|
Horse (2-3 years old) |
44 |
8 |
|
Horse (1-2 years old) |
36 |
6 |
|
Horse foal (< 1 year old) |
25 |
3 |
|
Donkey/small pony |
30 |
5 |
|
Deer (red) 6 months — 2 years |
13 |
2 |
|
Deer (red) > 2 years |
25 |
4 |
|
Deer (fallow) 6 months — 2 years |
7 |
1 |
|
Deer (fallow) > 2 years |
13 |
2 |
|
Deer (sika) 6 months — 2 years |
6 |
1 |
|
Deer (sika) > 2 years |
10 |
2 |
|
Breeding unit (per sow place) |
35 |
8 |
|
Integrated unit (per sow place) |
87 |
17 |
|
Finishing unit (per pig place) |
9.2 |
1.7 |
|
Laying hen per bird place |
0.56 |
0.12 |
|
Broiler per bird place |
0.24 |
0.09 |
|
Turkey per bird place |
1 |
0.4 |
[1] In 2022 the N excretion rate for the dairy cow is 89 kg N/ha and from 2023 onwards the N excretion rate will be determined by the milk yield per annum (for the 3 preceding years) as explained in footnote. 8, 9 and 10 in Sl No. 113 of 2022.
[2] <4,500kg milk yield per annum
[3] 4,501 - 6,500kg milk yield per annum
[4] >6,500kg milk yield per annum
