The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine has announced that Nitrogen and Phosphorus statements (N&P Statements) for the period January to November 2017 are now available on the Department’s online system www.agfood.ie.

These statements are particularly useful to allow farmers to plan for the remainder of the year, in order to ensure compliance with the limits of the Nitrates Regulations, thus avoiding penalties for breaching the limits of 170 kgs of Nitrogen per hectare or the limit for those who hold an approved derogation is 250 kgs of Nitrogen per hectare. In addition text messages have been sent to those farmers who may be in danger of exceeding the limits.

Farmers not already registered for agfood.ie can do so by logging onto www.agfood.ie and clicking the 'Register' button. To register a mobile phone number for future SMS text alerts log on to https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/contactsupdates/  to access the sign-on form, or alternatively contact the regional office

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is also reminding farmers that nitrates records for the movement of organic fertiliser, temporary movement of animals during the year or short term rental grazing agreements (Records 3,4, 5 Forms) must be submitted on or before 31 December 2017.

Completed forms should be e-mailed to nitrates@agriculture.gov.ie or posted to:

Nitrates Section,

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,

Johnstown Castle Estate,

Co Wexford

 

These forms are particularly important for farmers wishing to avail of such agreements in order to ensure compliance with the limits of the Nitrates Regulations. Only Records received before the deadline can be taken in to account when calculating the nitrate levels for 2017.  Any farmer unclear on their requirements should contact their agricultural advisor or ring the Nitrates helpline at 053-9163444.

 ENDS

Date Released: 14 December 2017