This article is from page 51 of the 2007-08-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 51 JPG
JUST hours after Environment Min- ister, John Gormley TD, announced a massive increase in the penalties for farmers under the Nitrate Regu- lations, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan TD, an- nounced a number of new deroga- tions for farmers under the scheme.
In what was surely a stage-managed announcement to soften the blow for farmers, Coughlan commented the Oley Keyee Tele) imme Due: bebexcs a sles KMm UNSC MEDALS Nitrates Directive for REPS farm- ae
Grassland farms that apply for der- ogation and meet the applicable con- ditions will be permitted to operate
above the statutory livestock manure limit of 170 kg of nitrogen from live- stock manure per hectare per year, up to a maximum limit of 250 kg per hectare per year.
Even though the derogation will not be completely formalised until the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government makes amendments to the Nitrates Regulations, Minister Coughlan has put practical arrangements in place so that farmers can avail of it for the current year and be eligible to apply for REPS 4.
Application forms for the deroga- tion have been published and farmers now need to lodge their applications.
This year’s closing date for receipt
of completed Nitrate Derogation ap- plications forms ise Friday Septem- ber 28, while a fertiliser plan is not required in respect of 2007.
“Under REPS, all slurry pro- duced on the farm was supposed to be spread by the end of August. As a special measure for this year, I am relaxing that condition. REPS farmers will therefore be allowed to spread slurry up to the same dead- lines (October I5th) that apply under the Nitrates Regulations to all other farmers,’ said Minister Coughlan.
To qualify for the derogation, farm- ers must submit an annual application to the Department of Agriculture and Food in the format specified and ap- plicants must undertake in writing to
fulfil the conditions set out therein.
Applications must be received by March | each year, excluding 2007 where the deadline has been extend- ed on a one off basis to September 28.
Applicants must be farming a hold- ing that is at least 80 per cent grass and must have grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, deer, goats and Oy oe
Full details of the derogation ar- rangements including application forms can be found on her Depart- ment’s website www.agriculture.gov. ie or from The Environment Section, Department of Agriculture and Food, Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford, Telephone (053) 9163400.