Kildare council urges farmers to adopt slurry rules
Kildare County Council has emphasised the need for tillage farmers to follow updated environmental regulations as the new planting season begins. The guidance focuses on slurry application techniques and water protection measures to safeguard local ecosystems.
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Kildare County Council
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As the 2026/2027 planting season commences, Kildare County Council has issued a reminder to tillage farmers regarding adherence to the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water Regulations 2022, as amended. These regulations aim to preserve water quality and protect the surrounding environment.
From 1 January 2025, it has been mandatory for farmers to use low emission slurry spreading (LESS) methods, such as trailing shoe and dribble bar, on holdings with grassland stocking rates of 100kg N/ha or higher from grazing livestock manure before any export of manure from the holding. This requirement also applies to pig slurry applications. When applying livestock manure to arable land, LESS equipment must be employed unless the manure is incorporated into the soil within 24 hours of spreading.
The LESS system significantly reduces ammonia emissions by 30 to 60% compared to traditional splash plate methods by applying slurry closer to the ground with increased precision, which also lowers the risk of nutrient runoff into rivers, lakes and groundwater. Additionally, ploughing or cultivating non-grassland crops is forbidden within 3 metres of watercourses identified on modern 1:5,000 scale Ordnance Survey Ireland mapping or better. For late harvested crops, such as vegetable crops harvested after 15 September, fodder beet, sugar beet, main crop potatoes and maize, a minimum uncultivated buffer zone of 6 metres must be maintained near watercourses. Cereal crops and beans are exempt from this buffer rule.
Farmers must ensure that shallow cultivation or crop sowing occurs within 10 days of baling straw or, if straw is chopped, within 10 days of harvest. In all cases, shallow cultivation or sowing of a crop or catch crop must be completed within 14 days of harvesting. Further detailed guidance and information can be found on the official government website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9563-rural-environment-sustainability-nitrates/
From 1 January 2025, it has been mandatory for farmers to use low emission slurry spreading (LESS) methods, such as trailing shoe and dribble bar, on holdings with grassland stocking rates of 100kg N/ha or higher from grazing livestock manure before any export of manure from the holding. This requirement also applies to pig slurry applications. When applying livestock manure to arable land, LESS equipment must be employed unless the manure is incorporated into the soil within 24 hours of spreading.
The LESS system significantly reduces ammonia emissions by 30 to 60% compared to traditional splash plate methods by applying slurry closer to the ground with increased precision, which also lowers the risk of nutrient runoff into rivers, lakes and groundwater. Additionally, ploughing or cultivating non-grassland crops is forbidden within 3 metres of watercourses identified on modern 1:5,000 scale Ordnance Survey Ireland mapping or better. For late harvested crops, such as vegetable crops harvested after 15 September, fodder beet, sugar beet, main crop potatoes and maize, a minimum uncultivated buffer zone of 6 metres must be maintained near watercourses. Cereal crops and beans are exempt from this buffer rule.
Farmers must ensure that shallow cultivation or crop sowing occurs within 10 days of baling straw or, if straw is chopped, within 10 days of harvest. In all cases, shallow cultivation or sowing of a crop or catch crop must be completed within 14 days of harvesting. Further detailed guidance and information can be found on the official government website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9563-rural-environment-sustainability-nitrates/
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