ICMSA warns against new nitrates restrictions

Any new measures being placed upon farms stocked below 170kgN/ha would undermine the viability of farming, warns ICMSA’s farm and rural affairs chairman, Denis Drennan.

Mr Drennan said ICMSA is concerned by suggestions farmers may be restricted from exporting slurry to other farmers to ensure their stocking rates stays below the 170kgN/ha. He pointed out that almost 5,000 farmers export slurry to maintain this stocking rate. Rule changes could have very serious implications for these farmers, he said.