REPS farms must cut back from full stock rate

FULLY stocked REPS farmers must reduce their nitrogen fertilisation from 3.78 bags of CAN to 2.33 bags per acre, to comply with the new Nitrates Regulations which take effect from February 1.

According to the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA), the farmers must get rid of some livestock, or acquire extra land, in order to stay within the new laws.

The ACA said all farmers are now effectively limited by a nitrogen quota. Even a REPS farmer with 50 cows and 12 followers on 100 acres would see his annual nitrogen quota slashed from 19 tonnes of CAN to 11 tonnes, a 42% drop.