Farmers reprieved by Minister Phil Hogan!

Farmers left with insufficient slurry capacity for the winter, due to persistent bad weather, have been reprieved by Environment Minister Phil Hogan.

They will be allowed to spread the “least amount of slurry necessary” in order to ensure they will have enough capacity to tide them over the closed period.

This spreading can take place up to Friday, Nov 16.

Additionally, there will be an earlier ending of the closed period, which will allow farmers in Zones A and B to spread slurry from Jan 1, 2013, and from 15 Jan in Zone C, subject to spreading conditions being suitable.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said: “This will allow farmers to maximise the value of slurry through early spring application, and not be forced to spread all their slurry now.”

Farmers wishing to avail of this spreading concession in the period Nov 1-16 must notify the Department of Agriculture in advance.

Details on this notification process will be on the department’s website.

Mr Coveney also welcomed the decision to grant a derogation from providing green cover to cereal growers who had either ploughed or sprayed ground in preparation for sowing a winter crop but were not able to establish a crop, again due to the wet weather.

The minister said, “This limited derogation applies only to tillage farmers who declared winter crops on their SPS application form in 2012 and have evidence of purchase/ordering of seed for sowing a winter crop”.

ICSA president Gabriel Gilmartin said the slurry closing date should be done away with altogether.

Regarding the “least amount required” to free up slurry tank capacity, he questioned how the Department can predict spreading conditions in January.

“We may not be able to spread again until February or March next year if the weather is bad.”

What are the conditions for availing of the slurry spreading concession ? 

>>Spreading of organic manures produced on farms will only be allowed during the period Nov 1 to Nov 16 inclusive where farmers have the required minimum storage capacity under normal circumstances; storage tanks are at a current level that leaves insufficient storage capacity for the closed periods; the insufficient storage capacity arising could lead to a potential risk of animal welfare issues arising; farmers must only remove and spread the least amount required to give them sufficient capacity to last until the end of the closed period; and normal requirements continue to apply, such as spreading not allowed in advance of adverse weather.

What are the zones referred to in relation to earlier ending of the closed period for slurry spreading?

>>Zone A is Cos Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

Zone B is Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath. Zone C is Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan.

What are the conditions for availing of the concession in relation to green cover establishment?

>>The derogation relates to land prepared through ploughing or application of a total herbicide in advance of winter sowing.

Only land ploughed or sprayed before this announcement is eligible for the derogation.

The farmer must have declared winter crops on their 2012 SPS application.

The farmer must produce evidence, if requested, of having secured/ordered seed with the intention of sowing a winter crop.

There is no requirement to notify the department to avail of this derogation.