Farmers are being reminded to submit completed Nitrates Records forms for the movement of organic fertiliser; temporary movement of animals; and short-term rental agreements.
These forms (Records 3, 4 and 5 forms) should be submitted to the Nitrates Section of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by December 31.
The department said that submitting these forms can help farmers to comply with the 170kg nitrogen (N) per hectare limit for livestock manure, or the 250kg N/ha limit for farmers with an approved derogation.
The department noted that last year the majority of farmers submitted their forms on time and stayed within the limits and avoided penalties.
It also stressed that these regulations apply to all farmers, including those with an approved derogation. Only forms submitted before December 31, 2020, will be eligible for nitrates credit for 2020.
BEEP-S payments issue
In other department-related news, payments under the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler (BEEP-S) have commenced, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue announced yesterday (Thursday, December 3).
In total, some €40.4 million has commenced issuing to 24,400 farmers.
In his announcement, the minister said: “I am delighted to confirm that payments have now commenced under BEEP-S, building on the range of support schemes available for beef farmers and that there will be no need for a linear cut to the payment rates.”