IFA Pig Chair Michael Caffrey has called on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to change how organic nutrient import capacity is calculated to provide greater certainty for farmers and advisers and encourage the use of organic manures.
He said the calculation on how much nutrients a farmer can import should be based on last year’s stocking rate rather than the current year’s figures.
“Under the current system, the amount of organic nutrients a farmer can import can change during the year depending on stock movements. This creates a moving target for farmers and advisers and makes planning very difficult,” he said.
IFA Environment Chair John Murphy said rising fertiliser prices and potential supply constraints highlight the importance of making the most of organic manures.
“With fertiliser prices increasing again and international supply chains under pressure, it makes sense to maximise the nutrients already being produced. Organic manures help to reduce reliance on imported fertiliser and improves nutrient efficiency at farm level, both of which contribute to meeting our climate targets and improving water quality,” John Murphy said.
Michael Caffrey added that farmers need certainty when it comes to nutrient management. “Using the previous year’s figures would provide a clear baseline and allow farmers to plan with confidence,” he said.
He noted that the previous year’s stocking rate is already used as a reference in the new Nitrates Action Programme and had been provided for in legislation prior to changes made in 2022.
Michael Caffrey also highlighted the importance of the proposal for pig producers, who rely on grassland farms to utilise nutrients produced on pig farms.
“With the growing season already underway, farmers need certainty now,” he said.
“The Department needs to act immediately and reinstate the pre-2022 system so farmers can plan properly and make full use of organic manures at a time when fertiliser prices and supply remain uncertain.”
