Change in green cover rule allows ploughing for crops from December 1
Winter ploughing was forbidden by a rule which requires green cover on arable lands within six weeks of any cultivation carried out before January 15. Farmers say this costs them up to €60 per hectare, or €10 per tonne of grain.
Agriculture and Environment Ministers Brendan Smith and John Gormley have now allowed farmers to plough for spring cereals from December 1 rather than January 15.
Mr Smith said: “The advice from Teagasc is that due to low soil temperatures in December and January, this adjustment can be made without any substantial increase in the risk of leaching of nitrates. It is accepted that early ploughing has a number of advantages, including an improved seedbed due to the effects of winter weathering, reduced disease and pest carryover from one growing season to the next and a more evenly distributed workload for farmers.”
IFA national grain committee chairman Colum McDonnell had said earlier that most Irish tillage soils are compacted after three very wet summers, and the green cover rule had effectively prevented farmers from carrying out the remedial works which will restore soil quality and productivity and boost crop yield.
