Gettingthehousein orderforpayments

AS the winter of 2018/19 approaches and farmers are receiving scheme payments such as BPS, ANC, and GLAS, it is important that farmers understand the connection between their Basic Payment Scheme payments and Cross Compliance requirements.

There are 13 ‘Statutory Management Requirements’ and seven ‘Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition’ standards applicable under Cross Compliance from January 1, 2015, following the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Farmers must respect the various SMRs and GAEC standards on environment, climate change, good agricultural condition of land, public, animal and plant health, and animal welfare.

The Statutory Management requirement, most critical to farmers coming into the winter, is the protection of water against pollution caused by nitrates.

Farmers must aim to reduce the pollution of waters caused by nitrates and phosphates occurring from land and farmyards.

In the farmyard, all clean water should be diverted to a clean water outfall, as this minimises the amount of soiled water that is produced on the holding.

The dairy washing tank can be applied to land during the closed period when ground conditions and weather are suitable.

All organic fertilisers, effluent and soiled waters must be collected in a way that will prevent run off or seepage, directly or indirectly, into ground waters or surface waters.

Farmers must have adequate storage capacity for organic fertilisers depending on the zone the farm is located.

County Kerry is located in Zone B, which means farmers in Kerry must have a storage capacity for an 18-week-winter.

For Zone B, the prohibited spreading period for spreading chemical fertiliser is September 15 to January 15; organic fertiliser (slurry) from October 15 to January 15; and farmyard manure from November 1 to January 15.

The Department may reduce prohibited spreading periods if weather and soil conditions allow; for example, farmers can continue to spread slurry up until the end of October 2018.

Storing silage bales within 20 metres of water or water abstraction point is not permitted.

Farmyard manure cannot be stored on land during the prohibited spreading period.

For the majority of farmers, the total amount of livestock manure applied would not contain more than 170 kilogrammes of organic nitrogen per hectare.

If farming above the 170 kilogramme limit to a maximum of 250 kg limit, you must apply for a Nitrate Derogation.

Nitrate records must be kept for each calendar year and must be finalised by March 31 of the following year.

Every farm must have a nutrient management plan completed with up-to-date soil sample results incorporated.

This plan will identify your nitrogen and phosphorus limits: if lime is required, slurry storage needs etc.

It is recommended that you estimate your holding’s fertiliser requirement early in the year using the records of the areas of grass and any other crops on your holding.

The main nitrate breaches include poor collection of organic manures, poor management of clean water, inadequate storage of organic manures and storage structural defects.

All farmers in the Basic Payment Scheme should have received an explanatory handbook for cross-compliance requirements from the Department of Agriculture.

It is important that farmers read this book and comply with the 13 Statutory Management Requirements and seven Good Agricultural Environmental Condition.

Farmers can receive cross compliance inspections from the department, and if breaches are found, penalties can be imposed on BPS payments and other area-based payments such as GLAS.

It is important to routinely evaluate your farming practices to ensure full compliance and protection of payments.

Farmers wishing to seek and receive advice on cross compliance should contact their advisor.