NITRATES DEROGATION REVIEW-WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR LOCAL FARMERS

By Séamus Nolan,

Dairy Advisor

Teagasc Castlerea

Nitrates Derogation only affects the most intensive farmers in the country. Standard stocking rate is capped on all farms at 170kgs organic N / Ha while the Nitrates derogation currently allows that to be pushed to 250kgs N/Ha. When granting the most recent Nitrates Derogation to Ireland in 2022 (only a small number of countries in the EU have a Derogation) the EU commission committed to reviewing water quality metrics in 2023 to monitor the impact of higher stocking rates on the environment. As a result of that review the Derogation limit for 2024 and 2025 will drop from 250 to 220 in most of the country.

Practically all of the Roscommon / Longford Region is affected by the drop to 220. A small area in west Roscommon escaped the drop. In all the Department of Agriculture estimate that 2150 farmers are affected nationally. So what does it mean for farmers currently in Derogation?

Firstly if you are in Derogation but are currently stocked at below 220kgs N/Ha then you are more or less ok. For those stocked at between 220 and 250 Kgs N/ha adjustments will have to be made. Options include:

Rent additional land while maintaining current stock numbers.
Export slurry to a less intensive farmer who has capacity to take it in.
Reduce stock numbers - this can be achieved by contract rearing young stock in the case of a dairy enterprise or a permanent reduction in overall stock numbers on the holding.

While none of the options above are without associated costs it is important that affected farmers review their situation and if affected put a plan in place for 2024 and subsequent years. I would estimate that close to 40% of derogation farmers in this region are affected.

It is also worth noting that budget 2024 announced a 70% grant rate for farmers importing slurry if they wish to invest in facilities for the storage of same.

Teagasc provides a Local Advisory and Education service to farmers. They have offices based in Roscommon Town (Tel: 090 6626166), Castlerea (Tel: 094 9620160) and Longford Town (Tel: 043 3341021), You can find us on Facebook @Teagascroscommonlongford and twitter @teagascRNLD. Email; RoscommonLongfordAdvisory@teagasc.ie