Further calls for slurry import limit calculation changes
There are further calls for the calculation of limits on slurry imports to be based on the preceding year's figures.
Following a call from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) this week urging the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to change how organic nutrient import capacity is calculated, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) have now done likewise.
ICSA rural development chairperson Edmond Phelan called on the department to amend the rules around the importation of organic nutrients so that allowable imports are calculated using the previous year’s stocking rate rather than the current year’s figures.
“Farmers are becoming increasingly frustrated with a system that is not live and does not always reflect the reality on the ground," Phelan said.
"In many cases they are trying to do the right thing in terms of nutrient management but are left worried about falling foul of the rules and incurring penalties,” he added.
He said the current system of calculating slurry import limits is particularly challenging for beef farmers who trade animals throughout the year.
"The slurry spreading season closes at the end of September and under the current system farmers often do not know their exact stocking rate until mid to late January of the following year," he explained.
"This makes it impossible to know exactly how much slurry can be imported during the season. By using the previous year’s figures, farmers have the certainty they need to plan effectively," Phelan added.
"Basing slurry import limits on the previous year’s stocking rate would provide a clear and workable reference point.
"It would give farmers and advisors a straightforward baseline to work from and remove a lot of the uncertainty that currently exists," the ICSA rural development chair said.
According to Phelan, farmers are trying to plan slurry movements without full clarity.
"At a time when fertiliser markets remain extremely volatile, it makes sense to ensure that the organic nutrients already available on farms can be used as efficiently as possible," he said.
"The current system is causing unnecessary difficulties during one of the busiest periods of the year.
"What we are proposing is a common-sense change that would remove a lot of unnecessary complications for farmers. The department should move to address this without delay so that farmers can manage nutrients with greater certainty for the season ahead," Phelan said.
