The deadline for applying for Nitrates Derogation has been extended, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has announced. The derogation allows more intensive farmers to operate at a higher stocking rate than stipulated in the Nitrates Directive.
Last month, the EU Commission granted an extension to Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation until 2025.
The DAFM says “following the positive vote on Ireland’s request for a Nitrates Derogation, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine opened the application portal at the earliest opportunity with a short application window.” As the Department had engaged with farmers and advisors it identified the need for a short extension.
For the application to be valid, all terms and conditions of the derogation must be adhered to, some of which are listed below:
- An annual application must be made online to the DAFM. No postal applications will be accepted
- Farming a holding that is at least 80% grass. Have grazing livestock – a derogation is only available in respect of grazing livestock
- All slurry applied on derogation holdings must be applied only using low emission equipment
- Commonage and rough grazing will not be eligible for the derogation allowance of 250 kg N/ha. Chemical fertiliser calculations on commonages/rough grazing will be limited to the ≤170 kg N/ha allowances
- Clover must be incorporated where grass is being sown
Farmers who are allocated a derogation can 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/ha.
The derogation will run to December 2025 with an interim review of water quality to be carried out in 2023.