Over 6,800 intensively stocked farmers availed of the derogation in 2019.

The 2020 Nitrates Derogation Terms & Conditions include the full list of recommendations put forward by the Expert Review Group who proposed additional conditions for those farming in derogation that support the multiple objectives of a competitive agriculture sector whilst minimising negative impacts on water quality. This review was carried out jointly in 2019 by experts from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, the Department of Housing Planning & Local Government, Teagasc and the EPA and proposed recommendations that were accepted by both Ministers.  The Nitrates Derogation is contingent on meeting water quality standards, and these additional measures, included now in the requirements of the 2020 scheme are designed to provide added protections to water quality. 

Applications must be submitted using the online system which is aimed at simplifying the application process and assisting farmers to avoid penalties. Farmers can also remain compliant with the Regulations by managing their livestock to farm below the limits, exporting enough slurry/farmyard manure or renting additional land but these farmers are also subject to additional requirements this year.

Over 6,800 farmers availed of the derogation in 2019.

In order to prevent waters from being polluted by nitrogen and phosphorus, the Regulations say that you must do the following

• You must spread livestock manure and other organic fertilisers, effluents and soiled water as accurately and as evenly as you can.
• You must not use an upward-facing splash plate or sludge irrigator on a tanker or umbilical system for spreading organic fertiliser or soiled water.
• You must not spread organic fertilisers or soiled water from a road or passageway, even if the road or passageway is on your own holding.
• You must not spread chemical fertilisers, livestock manure, soiled water or other organic fertilisers when: -

1. The land is waterlogged; -
2. The land is flooded, or it is likely to flood; -
3. The land is frozen, or covered with snow; -
4. Heavy rain is forecast within 48 hours (you must check the forecasts from Met Éireann).

Minister Creed said, “this initiative is one of a series of measures being put in place by stakeholders in advance of the Spring calving season with a view to ensuring the highest possible calf welfare outcomes”.

The Minister confirmed that he was making €1.5 million available in order to fund the scheme.

The primary investment focus in on supporting calf feeding systems such as computerised calf feeders, milk carts with mixer included and calf teat feeders. When a farmer purchases one of these items, they will also be eligible to receive support for the purchase of other items, such as calf milk heaters, calf forage/hay racks, calf meal troughs, calf feed barriers and calf pen dividers.

The Minister said that the minimum investment required is €1,000 ex. VAT, while the maximum investment being proposed will be €7,500 ex. VAT. A 40% grant aid will apply to applications meeting all the terms and conditions of the scheme. (In the event of over-subscription this figure may be reduced). Minister Creed confirmed that applications will open on 7^th January 2020. Terms and conditions and the relevant specifications will be available on the DAFM website.

Minister Creed expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing progress being made in the eradication of BVD.  The Minister noted that substantial savings were being achieved by farmers, with the incidence of PIs reducing in 2019 to just 0.04% from 0.66% in 2013 – the first year of the compulsory phase of the Eradication Programme.

He said “the DAFM supports were helping the eradication effort and will be further enhanced by the proposed amendment to the existing regulations coming into effect in early 2020 whereby it will now be a legal requirement for all animals born on or before 1 January 2013 to have a known BVD 

The Minister stated, “This further, very significant level of payments to farmers in the beef sector under BEAM represents clear recognition by my Department, the Government and the EU of the very challenging and difficult climate that these farmers have had to face in recent years.  These payments are in addition to some €15.4 million under BEEP and €34.4 million in BDGP payments that have already issued in recent weeks, making a total of €125 million to Irish beef farmers. Since September a total of €1.72 billion has now been paid out to Ireland’s farmers under a range of schemes operated by my Department.”

BEAM payments will continue to issue on an ongoing basis as more famers are verified as compliant with the requirements of the Measure.

. Payments to the value of approximately €6.1 million have already been made to almost 1,300 farmers, commencing at the end of November. Payments will continue to be made to farmers between now and the end of the year.  

The Minister commented “I am delighted to announce that advance payments commenced ahead of schedule and earlier than last year. The Organic Farming Scheme is one of our most successful schemes under our current Rural Development Programme and it has more than achieved its targets in terms of land converted and maintained for organics.”

The payments to farmers under this scheme mean that since September, DAFM has paid out a total of €1.55 Billion in direct payment to farmers.

The Regional Veterinary Laboratory (RVL) Liver Fluke Abattoir ELISA Survey

Blood samples collected by DAFM staff from a selection of lambs born in 2019 (928 flocks) across 25 counties were tested for the presence of antibodies to liver fluke by the DAFM Laboratory Service to determine the level of exposure of lambs in these flocks. Data from this survey indicates that the majority of infected flocks are from counties on the western seaboard. A particularly large number of positive results were reported from flocks located in Mayo and Donegal. In these counties, exposure to liver fluke was detected in June, while animals in the southwest were apparently not exposed before August. By October, there was evidence of fluke exposure in lambs from the midlands and large parts of Leinster. Please see http://www.animalhealthsurveillance.agriculture.gov.ie/ for further details and maps of test results.

Renaghan is seeking a meeting with the Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle, to address the issue.

The IFA’s organics chairman said: “This is despite these farmers having full organic registration.

The minister has overseen a flawed process with less than a quarter of applicants accepted into the scheme at a time when we are being lectured about the need for farmers to diversify.

“Only 55 applicants out of 225 that applied in November 2018 were eventually accepted into the scheme, despite meeting the obligations of the scheme since they committed to applying.

“These farmers have been contacted advising them that their application was not successful.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., today announced the extension of closing dates for participants in BEEP to weigh their cows and unweaned calves and to submit the data to ICBF. Animals may now be weighed up to and including the 8 November, and weight data is to be submitted to ICBF by 5pm on 15 November.

These statements are particularly useful as they allow farmers to plan for the remainder of the year, in order to ensure compliance with the limits of the Nitrates Regulations, thus avoiding penalties for breaching the limit of 170 kgs of Nitrogen per hectare or the 250 kgs of Nitrogen per hectare limit for those who hold an approved derogation.  

Farmers are also reminded that all Nitrate Records Forms for 2019 must be submitted to Nitrates Section before 31 December 2019.

Farmers not already registered for agfood.ie can do so by logging onto www.agfood.ie and clicking the 'Register' button. To register a mobile phone number for future SMS text alerts, log on to https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/contactsupdates/ to access the sign-on form.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, today announced that payments in respect of Year 3 of the Knowledge Transfer Programme have commenced.

The Minister commented “I can confirm that the payments in relation to Year 3 of the Knowledge Transfer Programme have now commenced.  I am pleased to note that these payments are commencing a month earlier than in previous years.”

The Minister added “over the three year lifetime of this programme it has played a central role in helping farmers develop the skills and knowledge which will help them to address sustainability, productivity and competitiveness challenges.  This Programme has also been shown to have significant social benefits for the farming community in addition to providing important financial support.”

Given the structure of the Programme, payments are now rolling out on a sector by sector basis over the coming weeks. Payments for farmers in Equine and Poultry Knowledge Transfer Groups have now issued. Payments for Dairy, Beef, Sheep and Tillage will issue shortly.

There are now fewer than 40 days remaining to weigh your animals for the Beef Environmental Environmental Efficiency Program (BEEP).

If you have not already done so, we would strongly advise that you weigh your animals as soon as possible.

The open call for submissions is part of the CAP post 2020 consultation process, under which each Member State is required to conduct a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat analysis (SWOT) of the geographic area covered by the CAP Strategic Plan, and to engage with civil society and stakeholders to ensure the SWOT is fully reflective of the situation.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD tonight confirmed that talks with beef stakeholders have successfully concluded.

The Minister commented:

“After long and detailed negotiations, stakeholders have reached agreement on a wide of very significant issues. Progress was made on important initiatives aimed at improving transparency along the supply chain, and improving communication between industry and farmers”

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D. today announced that the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) will open for applications from Monday 19th August;

BEAM will open for applications from 19^th August to 8^th September inclusive. Applications will be accepted online through AgFood.ie