Changes needed over slurry spreading ban
DEPUTY Pat Casey is calling for the Minister for Agriculture to immediately lift the ban on spreading slurry and to allow farmers to make use of the unseasonably mild and dry weather which Ireland is experiencing at present.
Farmers in Wicklow are prevented from spreading slurry until January 13, while in other parts of the country spreading can’t start until February.
The Fianna Fail TD explained, ‘Slurry is prohibited from being spread over the winter in Ireland, with the prohibition lifted in mid-January. The unusually mild December coupled with the mostly dry weather has made it an optimum time for farmers to spread slurry now. We have written to the Minister for Agriculture to ask him to lift the slurry spreading ban and to allow farmers to start spreading today. We must remember that there are still a lot of farmers who are feeling the effects of last year’s fodder crisis.
‘As a result of the fodder crisis the Minister did step in last year and, as an exceptional measure, farmers were allowed to spread slurry for a fortnight longer than the deadlines set out under EU rules. I believe he must do the same again now and allow farmers the opportunity to boost grass growth for spring,’ said Deputy Casey.
‘In 2018 we witnessed extreme weather, from unprecedented snow, to a summer long drought. If 2019 were to follow in the same vein, then our farming community would be seriously disadvantaged. The Minister must bring forward the spreading date and he must do so immediately’.