From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine are reminding all Nitrates Derogation applicants that movements of organic manures must be submitted on-line to DAFM by 31st October 2021. This requirement was specified in the Terms & Conditions of the Nitrates Derogation application, which can be viewed on the website here: gov.ie - Rural Environment & Sustainability - Nitrates (www.gov.ie)
The submission deadline of movements for all other farmers is 31st December 2021. Farmers can access the on-line system by logging on to their agfood account and selecting the N&P Statements. The system can be used by both farmers and agricultural advisors.
A short demonstration video and a user manual is available on the Department’s website here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9563-rural-environment-sustainability-nitrates/#nitrates-records
Measures all farmers can take to avoid exceeding the nitrates limits of 170 kg/ha (or 250 kg/ha for derogation holders) include:
• Renting additional land (Submit Record 5 by 31 December)
• Reducing livestock numbers ((Submit Record 5 by 31 December)
• Exporting enough slurry/farmyard manure (Submit on-line by 31 December or 31 October for derogation applicants).
Note for Editors:
The on-line system for recording the movement of organic manures was launched on the 9 March 2021 and use of it to record slurry movements is mandatory since 1 September. Under the Nitrates Regulations farmers are obliged to farm within the limit of 170 kgs of nitrogen per hectare (or 250kgs/N/ha for those who hold an approved derogation. One of the measures farmers can take to reduce nitrate levels is to export slurry to another holding. Previously these movements had to be declared to the Department on a paper form by 31st December annually, (or 31st October for derogation holders.). Submission was by e-mail or post.
To use the on-line system farmers must be registered to use the Department’s on-line portal www.agfood.ie . The exporting farmer will log the movement on the portal and a text message will issue to the importing farmer alerting him to log on to the online system to accept the movement. Farmers not already registered to receive updates from DAFM by SMS can opt to do so by contacting ContactsUpdate@agriculture.gov.ie
A user manual and demonstration video for farmers and agents is available on the Department’s website at this link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9563-rural-environment-sustainability-nitrates/#nitrates-records
Further information on the Nitrates Regulations, and the Nitrates Derogation is available on the Departments website here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9563-rural-environment-sustainability-nitrates/