Council reminds Kildare farmers of slurry directive
Photo for illustrative purposes only
Kildare County Council has reminded tillage farmers of the requirements of good agricultural practice for the Protection of Water Regulations 2022.
The use of low-emission slurry spreading (LESS) methods, such as trailing shoe and dribble bars, have became compulsory since 1 January for the application of slurry on holdings with grassland stocking rates of 100kg N/Ha from grazing livestock manure.
This requirement also applies before the export of livestock manure from the holding.
The use of LESS is also required for pig slurry applications and where livestock manure is being applied to arable land, unless the livestock manure is incorporated into soil within 24 hours after application.
Applying slurry using LESS equipment can reduce ammonia emissions by 30-60 per cent, compared to the traditional splash-plate method by applying slurry more precisely and closer to the ground, significantly minimising the risk of nutrient runoff into rivers, lakes and groundwater.
This practice is expected to play a significant role in meeting Irish agriculture’s emissions reduction targets.
Ploughing or cultivating for non-grassland crops is prohibited within three metres of watercourses that are identified on the modern 1:5,000 scale Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) mapping or better.
For late harvested crops, after 15 September, a minimum uncultivated buffer of six metres shall be put in place to protect any intersecting watercourses.
