How much more slurry storage will I need under the new Nitrates Action Programme?

To give farmers time to plan and invest in additional storage, the new requirements will not come into effect until October 1, 2028

Grant aid will be available through DAFM to support the construction of new storage, and an exemption from planning permission for certain standalone facilities is currently progressing through the legislative process. File photo

Slurry and soiled water storage requirements on dairy farms are set to increase significantly under proposals in the new Nitrates Action Programme (NAP).

A Teagasc survey of 100 representative dairy farms, carried out between July 2023 and March 2025, on the back of a commitment made in the last NAP, found that the volume of slurry produced per dairy cow is 21% higher than the figures currently used in regulation.