Nitrates

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Nitrates

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>When light falls upon the kingfishers’ blue feathers, blue wavelengths are scattered more than other wavelengths, giving an ‘electric’ hue to the blues — a phenomenon known as the<a class="contextmenu inlinelink" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyndall_effect" idref="X0.7223755896570779"> Tyndall effect</a>. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire</p>

outdoors

Iridescent kingfishers need clear rivers — can we help?

We need to rethink our disregard for water quality, and to get busy restoring Ireland’s rivers to good health

<p>Pádraic Fogarty: "The impression that water quality is improving and that farmers simply need more time for measures which have been adopted to take effect is widespread. However, this is not supported by any data." Pictures: EPA Ireland </p>

outdoors

Ireland's lax approach to inspecting farms and enforcing rules

<p>Water quality is a major focus for Martin Crowe, Farming for Nature ambassador. He has installed three settling ponds to manage runoff from the yard and protect local watercourses. Alongside this, he has developed a 5–6-acre riparian buffer zone, fenced off from cattle and full of Devil’s-bit scabious, supporting pollinators and slowing nutrient flow to the Mulkear river. Pictures: Farming for Nature </p>

outdoors

Donal Hickey: A salute to farmers working with nature

Testing the water of a reservoir for the content of microbes .

outdoors

What’s really in our water? We can't manage what we can't measure

Costumer Buying Food at the Market

health and wellbeing

Here are eight ultra-processed foods to cut from your shopping basket for good

Biologists Examining Dirt and It's Acidity

outdoors

Digging into why our soil is unhealthy and how we can fix it

Anja Murray: Rivers running out of air

Anja Murray: Rivers running out of air

Oxygen is a vital element of healthy waters — by overloading waterways with nutrients, aquatic animals are struggling to breathe

Wed, 19 Jun, 2024

Tractor spraying slurry in a field on a winter day

Kieran Coughlan: The loss of derogation will ripple beyond affected farmers

Despite having done what was asked of them, the stocking rates for certain farmers are set to reduce from January 1, depending on where they are geographically located

Mon, 04 Dec, 2023

Up to 41,000 cows could be culled to meet nitrates derogation levels

Up to 41,000 cows could be culled to meet nitrates derogation levels

Tim Lombard said an 'animal welfare catastrophe' will occur if Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue does not intervene

Sun, 22 Oct, 2023

Farmers warn of 'welfare crisis' as new, stricter stocking rates confirmed

Farmers warn of 'welfare crisis' as new, stricter stocking rates confirmed

It comes as most of Ireland remains included in the new, stricter nitrates limits.

Tue, 03 Oct, 2023

Belfast PeacePlus funding

Varadkar: Government mulling new means-tested higher rate of child benefit

Minister Heather Humphreys has been asked to examine a means-tested payment after the ESRI said the measure could take more than 40,000 children out of poverty

Thu, 28 Sep, 2023

Fine Gael Ard Fheis

EU Commissioner says focus should be on farmers worst affected by nitrates limit

Ireland is one of three EU member states that has been granted a derogation to enable some farmers to work to a higher nitrate limit than is applied in the rest of the bloc

Fri, 22 Sep, 2023

Portraits of Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner designate, for ID photos and signature

European Commissioner due in Ireland soon to discuss nitrates derogation

However, the European Commission emphasised again that there is no possibility of reopening and renegotiating Ireland's agreed derogation

Mon, 18 Sep, 2023

Irish Examiner view: Protests will benefit SF, as governments always get the blame

Irish Examiner view: Protests will benefit SF, as governments always get the blame

Opposition parties are among the beneficiaries when measures such as the changes to the nitrates derogation antagonise and mobilise a group

Wed, 13 Sep, 2023

Tánaiste faces protesting farmers at party think-in

Tánaiste faces protesting farmers at party think-in

Micheál Martin conceded that dairy farmers will 'bear the brunt' of the EU nitrates derogation, but said that compensation was not being considered

Mon, 11 Sep, 2023

Members of The Irish Farmers' Association protesting outside the Department of Agriculture, Dublin.
They were protesting outside

Farmers demand McConalogue stands up to EU over decision on nitrates derogation

Thousands of dairy farmers could be forced to reduce herds in the next four months or spend money to acquire extra land

Thu, 07 Sep, 2023

Anja Murray: All is not well with Ireland's lovely lakes

Anja Murray: All is not well with Ireland's lovely lakes

As much as we don’t want to hear it, rain is one of the things that makes Ireland so special — more than 4,000 lakes adorn the Irish landscape but half of them are unhealthy, with pollution escalating

Wed, 29 Jun, 2022

Solid cow grazing standing black white dairy in a meadow, large udder fully in focus, blue sky, green grass

How nitrates rule changes will act as a new quota for Irish livestock farms

The new Nitrates Action Plan beginning in January 2023 will increase the organic nitrate levels deemed to be produced per cow, with a new banding limit brought into effect for higher-yielding herds. Agricultural accountant Kieran Coughlan explores how changes will limit Irish cow numbers.

Tue, 10 May, 2022

Tractor spreading artificial fertilizers. Transport, agricultural.

Irish phosphorous surplus among worst in the EU

The report said there have been some encouraging signs, with water quality improved in 152 of 726 prioritised water bodies

Tue, 28 Dec, 2021

Nitrates derogation vital, say farmers

Nitrates derogation vital, say farmers

Farmers will continue to lobby the Government in the coming weeks to ensure Ireland retains its derogation on EU nitrates regulations.

Fri, 17 Feb, 2017

Q&A nitrogen limits: Do you need to submit December nitrates form?

Q&A nitrogen limits: Do you need to submit December nitrates form?

In 2015, more than 1,600 farmers incurred penalties totalling €1.8m for breaches of the 170Kg of nitrates per hectare limit.

Thu, 22 Dec, 2016

News Q&A: Partnerships can get TAMS aid of up to €96,000

News Q&A: Partnerships can get TAMS aid of up to €96,000

The Irish Farm Managers Association has noted that applicants in the TAMS 2 grant scheme must be fully compliant with the Nitrates Directive in the previous year (2014, if applying this year) before applying for any environmental type works.

Thu, 13 Aug, 2015

Nitrates rules benefit output targets and water quality

Nitrates rules benefit output targets and water quality

Changes in regulations allow more scope for farmers to build up and maintain soil fertility levels.

Mon, 26 May, 2014