Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has announced that 2026 nitrates derogation applications can now be made.

Applications can be made online via MyAgFood.ie from today (Tuesday, March 31).

The nitrates derogation allows approximately 7,000 farmers to farm at a higher stocking rate, subject to additional terms and conditions designed to protect watercourses, Minister Heydon said.

Extension

“Opening the 2026 nitrates derogation is a significant milestone for me as Minister for Agriculture, having secured a three-year extension to the derogation towards the end of last year," he said.

"I encourage farmers to discuss their need to apply for a nitrates derogation with their agricultural adviser as soon as possible.”

The closing date for 2026 applications is Friday, May 15.

In addition, nitrogen and phosphorus statements, detailing each holding’s bovine grassland stocking rate for 2025, are available to view online.

The previous year’s stocking rate determines each farm’s grassland fertiliser allowance as set out in the Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations.

Dairy bands

Minister Heydon also confirmed that the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) website has opened to facilitate dairy farmers to confirm their dairy band for 2026.

Dairy farmers should confirm their herd’s dairy cow band for 2026 and, if desired, opt-in to receive recognition for managing crude protein in the concentrates fed to their cows last year.

This is also confirmed using the ICBF website.

After May 15, dairy farmers who have not confirmed their herd’s band for 2026 will be defaulted to the highest excretion rate band of 106kg of nitrogen per dairy cow for 2026, until they submit appropriate information to the department to confirm their herd’s band.

The deadline for such submissions is December 31. 

Changes

The minister added: “My department is writing to all dairy farmers this week to remind them of changes introduced under the sixth Nitrates Action Programme regarding the milking platform measure and increases in slurry and soiled water storage requirements from October 1, 2028.

"As farmers carry out busy spring work, it is important that they are aware of the possible need to record movement of slurry off the milking platform and engage with their agricultural advisor, where appropriate, regarding the new rules.

"As organic nutrient storage requirements will be increasing in 2028, farmers should take the opportunity to put a plan in place regarding planning permission and finance where necessary."