REPS Slurry Spreading Period Extended

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food this week announced the temporary measure to assist REPS farmers. According to Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: "The measure applies to farmers in REPS 3 who are required to have spread all the slurry produced during the winter housing period by 31 August".

The Clare T.D. said: "The atrocious weather conditions, particularly in County Clare and the Midwest Region, of the past two months have made it extremely difficult for some local REPS farmers to get their slurry spread by the end of this month".

He continued: "The Nitrates Regulations would rule out spreading in many areas at the moment. I am delighted, therefore, that Minister Smith has agreed to extend the deadline to 15 October, which is the deadline in the Nitrates Regulations themselves and also applies to farmers in REPS 4".

Section 18(2) of the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2009 (the "Nitrates Regulations") provides as follows:

"Fertilisers or soiled water shall not be applied to land in any of the following circumstances -
(a) the land is waterlogged;
(b) the land is flooded or likely to flood;
(c) the land is snow-covered or frozen;
(d) heavy rain is forecast within 48 hours,
or
(e) the ground slopes steeply and, taking into account factors such as proximity to waters, soil condition, ground cover and rainfall, there is significant risk of causing water pollution."

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- High-resolution images of Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, may be downloaded from www.dunphyprimages.com
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR at media@dunphypr.com or 086-8534900

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