Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has today (Wednesday, April 17) announced extensions to the deadlines to submit nitrates derogation applications and dairy banding.
The minister said that the 2024 nitrates derogation application deadline, which had been due to fall at the end of this week, is now extended by seven days to Friday, April 26, 2024.
McConalogue also confirmed that the closing date for dairy farmers to confirm their dairy excretion rate band for this year has been moved back to Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM’s) online derogation application portal www.agfood.ie had been due to close for applications at midnight on this Friday, April 19.
Farmers who applied for a nitrates derogation in 2023 are also reminded that they must submit 2023 fertiliser accounts by the revised closing date of April 26.
The minister added that farmers intending to submit applications should immediately contact their adviser if they have not already done so.
Nitrates derogation
Minister McConalogue said that the decision had been taken in light of the “continued challenging weather conditions”.
“I am conscious of the pressures on farmers and on their advisors to provide the necessary supports during this time.
“I have agreed these extensions to allow farmers the necessary time to effectively engage with their advisor,” he said.
Minister McConalogue added that extending the deadline for confirmation of a dairy herd’s excretion rate band for 2024, will facilitate submissions being made when farmers are meeting advisors to finalise their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme applications.
The closing date for the submission of BISS applications is May 15, 2024.
The 2024 Nitrates Dairy Band for dairy herds can be submitted online via the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) website.
Farmers are reminded that the opt-in measure for a dairy farmer to feed a lower level of crude protein to their herd and achieve a reduced N excretion rate is only available for those who submit their band through ICBF.
For the small cohort of farmers who have not consented to their milk data being shared with ICBF, these farmers are required to complete a manual form available to download on the department’s website at: www.gov.ie/nitrates