The annual report of the Agriculture Appeals Office has shown that 48% of appeals taken by farmers were successfully contested with the plaintiff receiving a payment or not receiving a penalty.
Rules related to nitrates has overtaken cattle ID as the most common cause of farm penalties in Northern Ireland. Peter McCann reports.
The interim statements have been calculated off existing excretion figures and not the ones proposed by the Department of Agriculture earlier this year.
A 37-point action plan to improve water quality was published by the department last week after receiving approval by ministers in the NI Executive