Donegal minister confirms securing of a nitrates derogation

Donegal TD and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has announced that Ireland has secured a positive vote on the extension of its nitrates derogation for the period 2022 – 2025.

The conditions for this include a strengthened set of water protection measures, an increased level of inspections and a requirement for an interim review of water quality in 2023.

Commenting on the European Commission’s Implementing Decision, Minister McConalogue said all farmers have an important role to play in protecting the environment, particularly those farming intensively.

"It is crucial that we protect and restore our waters as soon as possible to maintain the nitrates derogation at current levels into the future.

"Water quality is crucial to a healthy environment and farmers are keen to drive further improvements here,” he said.

The derogation allows more intensive farmers to operate at a higher stocking rate than that stipulated in the nitrates directive, subject to adherence to stricter rules to be implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.

The derogation will run to December 31, 2025, with the interim review in 2023.

Minister McConalogue also announced that the online application portal will open tomorrow morning, Friday, March 18 for those wishing to apply for a nitrates derogation in 2022.

“I encourage more intensively stocked farmers to engage as soon as possible with this application process and to discuss the need for a derogation with their agricultural advisor,” the Minister added.

Over 6,000 intensively stocked farmers availed of the derogation in 2021 with a similar number anticipated to avail of the facility in 2022.

The online system is aimed at simplifying the application process and assisting farmers to avoid penalties. While farmers can also remain compliant with the regulations by managing their livestock, exporting enough slurry/farmyard manure, or renting additional land, this is subject to strict conditions including keeping records of any livestock manure or other organic fertilisers moved off the holding.

There is now also a mandatory online system in place to record movements of organic manure between holdings which is also aimed at simplifying the process and assisting farmers to avoid penalties.

The closing date for Nitrates Derogation applications is April 14. Farmers who applied for a derogation in 2021 are reminded that they must submit fertiliser accounts by this same date.

Farmers not already registered for agfood.ie can do so by logging onto www.agfood.ie and click the 'Register' button.

More information is available on the department’s website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/department-of-agriculture-and-foods-online-services/

Further information, including Terms & Conditions are available on the department’s website at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9563-rural-environment-sustainability-nitrates/#nitrates-derogation