Spreading rules must bow to weather
He said: “Calendar farming restrictions for slurry spreading are proving unworkable, unrealistic and frustrating for farmers.”
Farmers in Zone A were to commence spreading from last Friday, with farmers in Zones B and C permitted to commence after January 15 and January 31.
Focusing on the recent inclement weather, Mr Sherlock said: “Many parts of the country are experiencing weather conditions which are completely incompatible to slurry spreading.
"It may be weeks before conditions improve by which time many important farming schedules will have been delayed. On the contrary, the milder and dryer weather over the last number of weeks would have been ideal, yet our hands were tied.
“At all times, farmers are working and planning with a close eye on the weather and ground conditions to comply with best farming practice in terms of efficiency, animal welfare and environmental concerns.
"Fixed artificial deadlines at the beginning and end of the slurry spreading season goes against all that, and the legislators must surely recognise the wisdom in being more flexible on this issue.”
Last year the ICSA had also called for the October 15 slurry spreading deadline to be extended due to the waterlogged farmlands around the country at the time.
The group said allowances should always be made to reflect weather conditions.
