The deadline for declaring fertiliser stocks is just over two weeks away (October 15), and farmers must make the declaration regardless of whether they have fertiliser in stock or not.

For all professional fertiliser users, it is a legal obligation to submit an annual closing stock declaration to the National Fertiliser Database (NFD).

In cases where a farmer has remaining fertiliser, the closing stock declaration must include the type of fertiliser and the quantity of each product being held.

Farms that do not have fertiliser in stock must submit a ‘nil’ declaration.

Closing stocks

Closing stocks are classified as any fertiliser held on hand at 23.59 on September 14 each year.

This declaration must be submitted, by farmers or their agents, through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM's) MyAgFood.ie portal.

The final date for submissions is October 15, 2026.

According to the DAFM, the system for declaring closing stocks on the National Fertiliser Database is quick and easy.

A comprehensive, step-by-step guide is available on the DAFM's National Fertiliser Database webpage.

Records

Additionally, farmers and other fertiliser users are encouraged to check their fertiliser transaction records on MyAgFood.ie to ensure the information recorded for their farm is accurate and up to date.

When it comes to fertiliser being supplied to a farmer through a contractor, the relevant fertiliser transaction should be allocated to the customer’s herd number.

This can be done directly by contractors through MyAgFood.ie using the ‘Farm to Farm Transfer’ facility.

It is the responsibility of these operators to ensure the accuracy of data on the National Fertiliser Database in respect of their customers.

Farmers who have queries regarding purchases of fertilisers should raise concerns with their merchant directly in the first instance.

CBAM

In other fertiliser news, a proposal tabled by the European Parliament to direct a portion of revenue from the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to support farmers has been slammed as "incomprehensible".

Earlier this month, the parliament voted narrowly to scrap a proposed safeguard that would have removed fertiliser from the scope of the measure in exceptional circumstances that could harm EU markets and push prices too high.

The parliament instead proposed a new mechanism under CBAM that would temporarily redirect revenues from the measure (which requires importers of fertiliser and other products to purchase certificates) from the goods concerned to the affected sectors.

The removal of the safeguard mechanism has been slammed by Copa Cogeca, the EU umbrella group of farm organisations (of which the Irish Farmers' Association is a member).

Copa called the decision to scrap the safeguard "simply incomprehensible", particularly at a time when fertiliser prices remain high and geopolitical tensions are putting pressure on energy and fertiliser markets.