Rural Life
An MEP has written to the EU Commissioner for Environment to call for an extension of the nitrates derogation and "stability" for farmers.
Dairy
The ICMSA has told the EU Commissioner for Environment that Irish derogation farmers are "the most inspected and supervised in the state".
Jim Bergin has said Irish farming can achieve good water quality status at current production levels "rather than decimating our industry".
Agri Politics
A proposal to allow farmers to spread slurry using a splash plate on hilly ground has been welcomed by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).
Environment
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has told farmers he cannot yet give...
Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has written to government ministers, seeking "urgent...
Further public consultations as part of the process of finalising the new Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) have now been launched.
Tillage
Farmers "will be relieved" to see the proposal under the sixth NAP to drop the requirement for shallow cultivation.
The expansion of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) is a...
Sligo County Council has notified landowners and farmers within certain river catchment areas of upcoming agricultural inspections.
A national water quality conference will take place this month focused on policy and regulatory...
Minister Heydon has confirmed that the European Commissioner for Environment will visit Ireland for talks on the nitrates derogation.
Agri-Business
DAFM have reminded farmers of the technical notice issued in February 2025 regarding the restriction of unprotected urea.
Teagasc has assessed the chemical nitrogen allowances for the tillage sector in the context of a new Nitrates Action Programme (NAP)
Research from Teagasc has found that reducing cow numbers would be the "most expensive option" for dairy farmers in derogation.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has received a number of reports prepared by Teagasc that he said will inform the next NAP.
Dairy farms whose holdings are considered 'fragmented' could face a reduced chemical nitrogen allowance if manure is not evenly spread.
The department has outlined "measures under consideration" for Ireland's sixth NAP, which is due to come into effect from January 1.
Government officials are developing "a list of impactful measures from a water quality perspective" for the next NAP according to minister.
As Ireland focuses on putting case forward to retain the derogation post-2025 there is an "unprecedented" effort to improve water quality.
Minister Martin Heydon has announced that the 2025 nitrates derogation applications can now be made through the Agfood system.
The Department of Agriculture has confirmed changes to the Nitrates Action Programme on organic manure nitrogen and the nitrates derogation.
Recommendations from the Nitrates Expert Group (NEG) on tighter nitrate restrictions are set to be finalised before April.
