Slurry spreading deadline extended by one week 

The department has announced the extension of the slurry spreading season up to October 7

Farmers who wish to avail of the extension need to register with the department in advance of spreading. This can be done by emailing [e-mail] or by phoning 053-916-3425 and quoting their herd number. File picture

A one-week extension to the slurry spreading deadline has been announced.

Slurry application is now permitted this year up to Wednesday, October 7. The closed period for slurry spreading will now commence on October 8.

Farmers who wish to avail of the extension need to register with the department in advance of spreading. This can be done by emailing [e-mail] or by phoning 053-916-3425 and quoting their herd number.

The extension was granted in response to the drought and extended period of dry weather experienced over the summer and the recent surge in grass growth in areas that were previously impacted.

With the extension announcement, farmers are warned that with the importance of improving water quality, inspectors from local authorities as well as the department will be operating a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to anyone found spreading slurry or soiled water during the closed period.

Announcing the extension, Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, said: “The Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations provide for an extension to the slurry spreading period in exceptional circumstances where defined criteria have been met. We are satisfied those criteria have been met this year, and in response, a one-week extension has been granted.” 

Concluding, minister Heydon said: “Weather conditions this year have presented significant challenges for many farmers, in particular due to the drought experienced during the summer over much of the south and southeast of the country.

I am conscious that on some farms animals were indoors up to very recently as farmers sought to build covers to allow animals to get back out to grass, and with the harvesting of second and third cuts having been delayed, this extension will help manage workload on farms.”