198 kg/ha of nitrogen costs farmer SFP

A Co Tipperary farmer has lost his 2013 direct payments due to non-compliance with nitrates regulations.

His case was raised in the Dáil by Noel Coonan, TD, and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney explained that the farmer applied for a Nitrates Derogation in 2011 and 2012, which would have allowed him up to 250 kg of nitrogen/hectare per year.

However, his derogation applications for 2011 and 2012 were rejected, because no fertiliser plan was submitted for either year. This resulted in non-compliances with the maximum limits of nitrogen per hectare requirements, and penalties were applied against the 2011 and 2012 direct payments schemes.