The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed that interim nitrogen and phosphorus statements (N & P statements) for the period January to October 2019 are now available online.

The figures can be found on the department’s online system at: www.agfood.ie.

The department highlights the usefulness of these statements in allowing farmers to plan for the remainder of the year, in order to ensure compliance with the limits of the Nitrates Regulations.

Penalties under these regulations relate to breaching the limits of 170kg of Nitrogen per hectare; the limit for those who hold an approved derogation is 250kg of N/ha.

Farmers are also reminded that completed nitrates record forms for the movement of organic fertiliser; temporary movement of animals during the year; or short-term rental grazing agreements (records 3, 4 and 5 forms) for 2019 should be submitted before December 31 next.

These records should be submitted to: [email protected]; or by post to: Nitrates Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford (Eircode: Y35 PN52).

Farmers who are not already registered with agfood.ie can do so by logging on and clicking the ‘register’ button.

The department also provides mobile phone text alerts from the agfood system. To register for this, click here to access the sign-in form.