Interim Nitrogen and Phosphorus statements for the period January to June 2015, for cattle only, will be available online from tomorrow (July 31), the Department of Agriculture says.
The Department says that these statements are of great benefit to farmers especially those that may have increased stock numbers in the past year.
It says the statements should assist farmers in deciding whether or not they need to take any action before the end of the year to stay within the limits set down in the Nitrates Regulations.
In addition to the Nitrogen and Phosphorus figures being available online, text messages are also issuing to those farmers registered for this service, the Department says, who at the end of June are at or over 75kg of Nitrogen per hectare (approaching or likely to exceed the limit by year end).
Farmers who receive this text, and who are not derogation applicants, should heed the warning and take steps, if not already in place, to reduce the nitrates loading before the end of the year, it advises.
The Department says that options include exporting slurry/farmyard manure or renting additional land.
This year the Department is increasing the frequency of these interim statements by making them available bi-monthly until the end of the year.
Statements for end of August and October will be available online towards the end of September and November respectively, it says.
The statements are available to farmers who are registered with agfood.ie and farmers not already registered for agfood.ie can do so by logging onto the website and clicking the ‘register’ button.