Northern farmers have been given an eleventh hour reprieve from the slurry ban with the ‘reasonable excuse‘ clause in the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP).

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is urging farmers to use the clause which allows a limited amount of slurry to be spread after the closed period begins on October 15, as a “last resort” and to act responsibly.

It has clarified that Northern Irish farmers can use the ‘reasonable excuse’ clause to spread slurry during closed period without notifying the department or NIEA (Northern Ireland Environment Agency).

But farmers must only use the clause in ‘exceptional’ cases, where they have taken all other reasonable steps to empty their tanks.

Farmers are warned to act responsibly, to spread on flat land where possible and to wait until the weather dries up. They are also being asked to spread just enough to maintain their slurry storage until the ban ends, for fear that further legislation is added to the existing regulations.

For more information about using the reasonable excuse clause visit: www.ufuni.org. Farmers can also contact UFU headquarters on: 028 90 370 222.