Today (Wednesday 14 April) is the deadline to apply for the 2021 Nitrates Derogation.
A two week extension had been given by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the original deadline of 25 March.
In addition, the deadline for farmers who applied for a derogation in 2020 to submit fertiliser accounts for last year, is also today (Wednesday 14 April).
The Nitrates Derogation are dependant on meeting water quality standards. Farmers are advised to contact their agricultural advisor to determine if they can utilise the derogation.
The derogation allows farmers to exceed the limit of 170kg of livestock manure nitrogen (N) per hectare set down in the Nitrates Regulations, up to a maximum of 250kg N per hectare. However, stricter rules must be adhered to for farmers under derogation.
Around 6,500 intensively-stocked farmers used the facility in 2020. The derogation is particularly important for more intensive farmers.
Applications can be submitted electronically via the department’s portal agfood.ie and logging onto the site and clicking the ‘Register’ button.
All terms and conditions of the Nitrates Derogation must be adhered to in order for an application to be valid.
LSL News.