Developing a nutrient management plan for your farm

Teagasc Cattle Specialist, Niall Kerins, is on this week’s Beef Edge Podcast with an update on the nutrient management legislation and developing a nutrient management plan for your farm.
The Nitrates Action Programme underwent a number of changes last year, with stronger measures introduced for the protection of water quality. There were a number of changes in particular that all farmers with a grassland stocking rate above 130kg of N/ha must take soil samples. In addition to this, for arable farmers, all sown arable land must be soil sampled.
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Niall also mentions that soil sampling is mandatory on all farms participating in ACRES. Niall discusses taking soil samples and the importance of developing a nutrient management plan with their advisor.
The opening date for spreading slurry is this week for a number farmers depending on the county that the farm is located in:
- Farmers in Zone A will be permitted to spread organic fertiliser (both slurry and farm yard manure) from Saturday, January 13th
- Farmers in Zone B will be permitted to spread organic fertilisers from Tuesday, January 16th
- Finally, farmers in Zone C will be permitted to spread organic fertiliser from Thursday, February 1st
The end of the closed period is not essentially a ‘green light’ for farmers to go out spreading slurry, and weather conditions should be looking favourable before slurry spreading goes ahead.
Niall advises how farmers can best maximise the value of slurry nutrients, including using slurry on silage ground. There are numerous benefits of using Low Emission Slurry spreading techniques.
With very high prices for fertiliser over the past number of years, Niall outlines the prices that are expected in the coming year.
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