Clare Farmers To Benefit From Extension Of Slurry Spreading Deadline

From: Dunphy Public Relations
Published: Mon Oct 13 2008


The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Department, following consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, announced the exceptional measure this week.

According to Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, "The atrocious weather conditions, particularly in County Clare and the Midwest Region, of the past two months have made it extremely difficult for some local farmers to get their slurry spread before the deadline. Many would have been unable to meet the 15 October deadline for spreading slurry, as laid down in the Nitrates Regulations."

"There is no doubt that farmers across the county have been finding it extremely difficult to carry out regular farming activity with many farmlands being left waterlogged by persistent and heavy rainfall", the Clare T.D. added.

While welcoming the extension of the slurry-spreading deadline, Minister Killeen pointed out that all landspreading activity would remain conditional on weather and ground conditions being suitable as set out in the Nitrates Regulations.

Livestock manures or any fertilisers may not be landspread when, for example, land is waterlogged, flooded or likely to flood, frozen or if heavy rain is forecast within 48 hours.

Buffer zones are specified for different kinds of water bodies and fertilisers may not be applied within those buffer zones.

In addition, the absolute prohibition on landspreading during the months of November and December remains.

"The extension of the slurry-spreading deadline will result in the delaying of the start of the prohibited period for application of livestock manures from 15 October to 1 November for all farmers, not just those who do not yet have their storage capacity in place. This would allow farmers an additional two-weeks to complete their landspreading operations", concluded Minister of State Killeen.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900
Company: Dunphy Public Relations
Contact Name: Dunphy Public Relations
Contact Email: media@dunphypr.com
Contact Phone: 00353868534900

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