In August 2006 the Department of Environment signed the Nitrates Regulations into law. The objective of this regulation was to improve water quality and ensure farming played its part in achieving the requirements of the Water Framework Directive.
Ireland’s rural waters could be said to be of a high standard. An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2006 water quality report describes the status of water in Ireland as follows:
- 71.4% of rivers are classified as unpolluted
- 92% of lakes are classified as unpolluted
In addition to this, the EPA attributes a relatively minor level of restrictive usage of public water supplies due to chemicals in water often associated with agriculture. For example the most recent EPA drinking water report identifies that:
- 0.5% of the population affected by restrictive water usage notices were due to nitrates in water, &
- 5% of all notifications by local authorities to the EPA were due to nitrates.
The nitrates regulations have had a profound impact on farm management practices and have introduced the whole concept of farming by date into Irish agriculture.
IFA has developed a nitrogen and phosphorus calculator to assist Members calculate their on-farm nutrient levels.
The farming by date legal requirements are illogical and environmentally unsound and should be replaced by an environmental response mechanism which allows farmers to apply nutrients based on favourable environmental conditions, as oppose to a specific number of months during the year.
Comment
Calendar Farming is Unworkable & Environmentally Unsound - comments from Pat Farrrell, IFA National Environment Chairman. Read more.
Information
To view the Nitrates Guidance Book, please click here.
Derogation Application form, please click here.