Farmers availing of a nitrates derogation and with lands located more than 30km from their main farm-holding may now have to accept a lower stocking rate limit for such lands.

This follows a change in the review of the Nitrates Action Programme earlier this year.

The distance from the main-farm holding is 30km ‘as the crow flies’ with the stocking rate reduced to a maximum of 170kg organic nitrogen per hectare (N/ha).

This is unless demonstrable evidence is provided to the Department to show that this land is being farmed at an appropriate higher level.

If farmers wish to claim the higher livestock organic nitrogen allowance on this land, they will be asked to confirm they meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Rotational grazing system in place on the land.
  • Active milking facilities on the land and included on the applicant’s Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).
  • Active slurry storage facilities on the land and included on the applicant’s BISS.
  • If the land is solely being cut for forage and/or used for arable cropping, evidence of slurry movement submitted to the Department within four days of slurry application (see page 33).

    • The Department states that following receipt of nitrates derogation applications for 2025, it will communicate with the individual derogation applicants who may be impacted by this change to allow them to provide demonstrable evidence.

    Commonage lands

    Since 9 March 2022, the maximum stocking rate permitted for commonage is 50kg organic nitrogen per hectare with no chemical nitrogen permitted.