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Nitrates 2022 - Farmers are you aware of these Changes?

Nitrates 2022 - Farmers are you aware of these Changes?

Every farmer in the country needs to make themselves aware of the current nitrates regulations. There are some changes to these regulations for 2022. Environment Specialist Tim Hyde gives the information you need.

Changes relevant to all farms

See also:

Soil samples and chemical fertiliser

  • 10% cut to chemical nitrogen (N) allowance across all stocking rates from 2022.
  • From 2023 soil samples are required for all farms stocked above 130kg/ha grassland stocking rate (GSR) and all arable
  • Tillage farms importing organic manures must take soil samples for the start of 2023.
  • No chemical phosphorus (P) is allowed on tillage farms in 2023 where there are no samples to prove that the lands are P index 1, 2 or 3
  • Do you import organic manures? Then you should soil sample this autumn to ensure compliance with the DAFM fertiliser register in 2023.

Slurry and soiled water

  • All slurry must be applied by October 8, 2022 and by October 1, 2023
  • Soiled water storage requirements increasing from three weeks in 2023 to four weeks in 2024. 
  • No roadway runoff to watercourses or waters

Slurry spreading and LESS

  • Low-emissiong slurry spreading (LESS) mandatory on all farms with a GSR:
    • 150kg/ha + from 2023;
    • 130kg/ha + from 2024; and,
    • 100kg/ha + from
  • LESS for slurry produced and spread from pigs from January 1, 2023

Requirements for a farm with grassland stocking rate >170kg/ha - non-derogation

Soil sampling

  • Must soil sample by 2022 or assume index 4 for P until samples taken in 2022. Farms in this category can no longer use chemical P if there are no soil samples on the farm.

Lime

  • Four-year liming plan – minimum of 25% of requirement to be spread in year one of soil analysis

Slurry

  • All slurry on farm must be spread by
  • All slurry must be applied by October 8,
  • Sufficient slurry storage in place - 16/18/22 weeks of storage.
  • Soiled water storage requirements increasing from three weeks in 2023 to four weeks in 2024

Crude protein

  • Max of 15% crude protein in ration fed to dairy cows applies for the period April 15, 2022 to September 30, 2022.

Farm roadways and watercourses

  • No roadway runoff is allowed to watercourses or waters.
  • Water troughs must be >20m from
  • Fence watercourses 1.5m from top of bank.
  • Fence watercourse
  • No drinking points

Mandatory Derogation Applicant Requirements from 2022

Lime

  • Four-year liming plan with a minimum of 25% of requirement to be spread in year one of soil analysis and the balance spread over the remaining three years.
  • Prioritise this in years one and two after the soil results as this will allow pH to return to normal when re-sampled in year four.

Soil sampling 

  • Soil samples are needed every four years - max 5ha/sample but recommended to be <4ha.
  • If parts of your farm are in the Teagasc/EPA high soil organic matter (OM) map (peat soils) then an OM percentage analysis is also required

Slurry and soiled water

  • LESS for all slurry spread on
  • 50% of slurry must be applied by June 15, 2022
  • All slurry must be applied by October 8, 2022
  • Sufficient slurry storage in place - 16/18/22 weeks.
  • Soiled water storage requirements increasing from three weeks in 2023 to four weeks in 2024

Crude protein

  • Max 15% crude protein in rations applies for the period April 15, 2022 to September 30, 2022 - animals older than two years.

Farm roadways and watercourses

  • No roadway runoff is allowed to watercourses or waters
  • Water troughs must be >20m from watercourses.
  • Fence watercourses 5m from top of bank.
  • Fence watercourse crossings
  • No drinking points.

Clover

  • Must include clover in grass seed mixtures - 1.5kg/ha naked clover seed or 2.5kg/ha pelleted.

Ploughing

  • If ploughing grassland, then this must be done between March 1 and May 31st. You cannot plough grassland outside of these dates.

Hedgerow management

  • Hedgerow management plan - allow a minimum of one white/blackthorn to mature in every hedgerow or cut hedgerows in rotation on a three-year cycle

Grass measuring and recording

  • Must complete a minimum 20 grass measurements on software - PastureBase Ireland in 2022 if 20 measurements completed in 2021
  • If new to derogation or if course completed in 2021, option to: either do 20 grass walks in 2022 recorded on software - 17 during March to September and three during October to November: or attend two half-day training courses (five hours) on software for grass measuring and grass measuring techniques plus record a minimum of three grass recordings on PastureBase Ireland.

Training

  • New applicants or applicants who did not apply in 2020 or 2021 must also complete all three training programmes by December 31, 2022 in:
    • nutrient use efficiency and phosphorous (P) build-up;
    • farming sustainability and water quality regulations; and,
    • grassland management

See also Nitrates section on Teagasc website