Local nitrates meetings planned

Event scheduled for Wednesday February 1 at 7pm at Errigal Country House.

Teagasc are hosting Nitrates and Derogation information meetings for farmers and the wider Agri-professional community in the coming weeks

The events scheduled for Wednesday February 1 at 7pm at Errigal Country House Hotel, Cootehill and on Tuesday February 7 at 7.30pm in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan and are part of a nationwide set of meetings. Presentations will be given by local Teagasc staff.

There have been a number of changes to the Nitrates Action Plan over the past few years and these topics will be covered in detail at the meeting. The issue of water quality and how this is impacting on farming will be addressed by Teagasc ASSAP (Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme) who will outline the EU Water Framework Directive, National and local water quality.

Changes to the Nitrates Action Plan since 2020 to 2022 will be highlighted and how these changes impact on all farms. Many changes have been made including new soil sampling rules, reduction in chemical fertiliser limits, soiled water storage periods, Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS), Dairy Cow banding and Tillage changes.

Derogation requirements for 2022 and 2023 will also be outlined as the cow banding may increase stocking rates on some dairy farms which may push an additional 2,000 farms into derogation in 2023.