Rural Environment & Sustainability - Nitrates

This plan pulls together all the significant work done to date by the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group (WQG), the additional measures under the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and the on-going projects that will help Ireland to improve water quality and secure the derogation.

• Water and Agriculture - a collaborative approach

• Know Your N&P Fertiliser Allowances Tailored for Grassland Farmers
• Comprehensive Guide for Calculating N&P Allowances on Farms
• Your Guide to Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) Water Quality Supports

• Record 3-Movement of Organic Nutrients-Manual Form
• Guidance in Declaring an Organic Nutrient Movement
• Guidance for Organic Nutrient Movement App for Smart Mobile Phone or PC

Watch this video on how to create and verify a nitrates export on our online Slurry Movement System

• Dairy Banding & Crude Protein Recognition Frequently Asked Questions
• Letter to Farmers on Dairy Banding

2025

• Nitrates Derogation Terms & Conditions 2025
• Nitrates Derogation Statistics 2019 to 2022
• Nitrates Derogation User Guide for Agents
• DAFM Training Requirements for New and Existing Nitrates Derogation Applicants 2022
• Nitrates Division Circular 01 of 2021 - Grassland Management Measure of Nitrates Derogation
• Nitrates Derogation Training Requirements 2021

A Pdf and Interactive Map can be accessed and viewed below.

Maximum Nitrates Derogation Stocking Rate Limits Map 2025

DAFM will be contacting potential Nitrates Derogation applicants directly, where their land area’s maximum stocking rate will change to 220kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare from the 1st of December 2025.

An Interactive Version of this Map can be viewed by downloading the spatial data from https://opendata.agriculture.gov.ie/dataset/dafm-national-maximum-nitrates-derogation-stocking-rate-limits-map-for-2025

This Data can be viewed through https://www.geohive.ie/

Further instructions on how to view this as an interactive map is provided in the Implementation Map User Manual.

Maximum Nitrates Derogation Stocking Rate Limits Map for 2025 User Manual

FAQ on Nitrates Derogation and the move to 220

Under the Nitrates Regulations (S.I. 113 of 2022) farmers must not apply more than 170kgs of nitrogen from livestock manure per hectare per year. Compliance with the Nitrates Regulations is one of the Statutory Management Requirements under the Single Payment Scheme.

• S.I. No. 42 of 2025- European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
• S.I. No. 62 of 2023- European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) (Amendment) Regulations 2023
• S.I. No. 113 of 2022 European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2022
• S.I. No. 393 of 2022- European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) (Amendment) Regulations 2022
• S.I. No. 716 of 2022- European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2022
• Further Information on the Nitrates Action programme 2022 – 2025

• Your questions answered on nitrates requirements for a georeferenced or LPIS parcel on soil sample reports
• Your questions answered on Nitrates Clover Requirements for Grass Reseeds
• Nitrates Information Leaflet
• Nitrates Explanatory Handbook
• Your questions answered on Green Cover Tillage Measure in SI 113 of 2022 and SI 393 of 2022
• Nitrates Division Circular 02 of 2021; Implementation of Liming Programme
• Your questions answered on Measures in SI 605/2017 and 529 of 2020
• Water and Air Quality Division Circular No. 01/2024 for FAS Advisors on Soil P Build Up
• Soil Testing Laboratories - DAFM Procedures re acceptance of soil testing results

• Meeting Minutes 30/07/2025
• Meeting Minutes 14/07/2025
• Meeting Minutes 07/07/2025
• Meeting Minutes 28/02/2025
• Meeting Minutes 21/02/2025
• Meeting Minutes 06/02/2025
• Meeting Minutes 15/01/2025
• Meeting Minutes 06/11/2024
• Meeting Minutes 17/10/2024
• Meeting Minutes 03/10/2024
• Meeting Minutes 16/09/2024
• Meeting Minutes 28/08/2024
• Meeting Minutes 03/05/2024
• Meeting Minutes 29/02/2024
• Meeting Minutes 29/01/2024
• Meeting Minutes 15/01/2024
• Meeting Minutes 20/12/2023
• Meeting Minutes 15/12/2023
• Meeting Minutes 05/12/2023
• Meeting Minutes 23/11/2023
• Meeting Minutes 17/11/2023
• Meeting Minutes 29/09/2023
• Meeting Minutes 27/09/2023
• Meeting Minutes 28/08/2023
• Meeting Minutes 18/07/2023
• Meeting Minutes 29/06/2023
• Water Quality Monitoring Report on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentration in Irish Waters 2022
• Terms of Reference
• Meeting Minutes 19/06/2023
• Meeting Minutes 29/05/2023

• Record 5: Rental/ short term grazing and Forage Agreement for 2025
• Record 4: Temporary Movement of Animals for 2025

Public Consultation on the Additional Measures for Ireland’s Fifth Nitrates Action Programme and the associated Natura Impact Statement

• Document on Natura Impact Statement – the 5th Nitrates Action Programme (For Consultation) 2021
• Draft 5th Nitrates Action Programme 2021
• Fourth Review of Irelands Nitrates Action Programme
• Third Review of Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme - Consultation Paper

• S.I. 716/2022 - European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) (Amendment) Regulations 2022
• S.I. 62/2023- European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) (Amendment) Regulations 2023
• S.I. No. 393/2022 – European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2022
• S.I. No. 113/2022 - European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2022 (irishstatutebook.ie)

Reminder of the restriction on the use of unprotected urea in solid form with effect from 15 September 2025

• https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/press-releases/reminder-of-the-restriction-on-the-use-of-unprotected-urea-in-solid-form-with-effect-from-15-september-2025/

• Reducing Ammonia Emissions – Improving Air Quality