Slurry spreading season reopens in Kildare

KILDARE County Council has sought to remind farmers of the importance of safeguarding watercourses as the 2026 slurry spreading season opened again on 13 January.  

From this date, organic fertiliser, including slurry and farmyard manure, may be applied to land subject to suitable weather and ground conditions.   

The European Union Good Agricultural Practices for Protection of Waters (GAP) Regulations 2022 set out requirements for the collection, storage, management and land spreading of farmyard manure, organic fertiliser and soiled water produced on a farm.   

Notably, since 1 January 2025, the use of low emission slurry spreading (LESS), such as trailing shoe and dribble bar, became compulsory on farms stocked at 100kg N/ha or above. Low emission spreading equipment is to be used to apply livestock manure to arable land and the livestock manure to be ploughed within 24 hours.

Applying slurry using LESS equipment can reduce ammonia emissions by 30-60% compared to the traditional splash plate method because it applies slurry more precisely and closer to the ground, which significantly minimizes the risk of nutrient run-off into rivers, lakes and groundwater.   

These measures are vital for meeting Ireland’s agriculture emissions reduction targets.  

However, farmers are reminded of key restrictions, such as not applying organic fertiliser or soiled water within 5m of any surface water, increasing to ten metres for two weeks before and after the 1 October and 12  January off-season for spreading. These restrictions also include spreading within 20m of a lake shoreline, 25m of domestic wells, or 100-200m of public water supplies.  

Organic and chemical fertilisers or soiled water cannot be applied to land if the land is waterlogged, flooded, snow-covered or frozen, if heavy rain is forecast within 48 hours, or if the ground slopes steeply and there is a risk of water pollution due to run-off pathways, land drains, the absence of hedgerows, poor soil condition or insufficient ground cover.  

Chemical fertilisers may only be spread from 27 January.  

Kildare County Council staff will continue to inspect farmyards for compliance with the GAP Regulations. It says that any breaches or reluctance to address pollution issues may be reported to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, potentially resulting in financial penalties.

It adds that these measures are essential to protect water quality and to prevent pollution across Co Kildare.