Today (Monday, September 14) is the last day for farmers to spread chemical fertiliser before the annual closed period comes into effect tomorrow (Tuesday, September 15).
As of tomorrow, farmers will be prohibited from spreading chemical fertiliser on their lands under the rules of the Nitrates Directive.
The closed period will remain enforced until January 12 in the south-east, January 15 in the midlands and west and January 31 in northern counties.
Slurry, farmyard manure and chemical fertilisers are prohibited from being spread over the winter in Ireland in order to comply with the EU’s Nitrates Directive.
The aim of the closed period is to protect ground and surface water, including drinking water.
The regulations also prohibit the spreading of slurry at any time of the year when the ground is frozen or waterlogged – or when heavy rain is forecast – in order to prevent slurry running off into waterways.
Tomorrow is also the deadline for farmers planting catch crops under the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) to get crops in the ground.
The deadline is proving difficult for many as they try to finish the harvest and clear fields. Ground conditions are also less than ideal in many areas due to heavy rain over the past few weeks.