Derogation Review 2019-2021 - Tim Hyde Environment Specialist Teagasc December 2019

Derogation Review 2019-2021

          Tim Hyde
 Environment Specialist Teagasc
        December 2019

Derogation review 2019-2021
 More farms, more land and more stock being
  farmed
 EPA reports ↓ water quality, ↑ GHG’s + Ammonia
 Temperate climate, long grazing season and
  productive soils
 Highly sustainable production system
 Timely for DAFM to carry out this review due to the
  pressures above
 Public consultation by DAGM – summer 2019
 Finalised December 2019

2   Teagasc Presentation Footer

Nitrates Derogation Farms
• 5% of farmers, 10% of land and 20% of livestock

                     2014 2015         2016      2017      2018
  No. Derogation     5,793    6,330     6,804     6,995     6,897
      Farms

  Area under Der. 332,200    351,900   409,800   432,300   445,200
    Farms (ha)

   Average Farm       57       55        60        62        65
     Size (ha)

  Livestock Units/    139     146       149       150       162
     Der. Farm

National cow numbers
• Actual change 2010 to 2017 and projected change to 2025
        1,800,000
        1,600,000
        1,400,000
        1,200,000
        1,000,000
 Cows

         800,000
         600,000
         400,000
         200,000
               0
                    4      2010     2017         2025
                                     Year

Fertiliser use Rising

                     N – 408,495t in 2018 (10.6%
                      increase)
                     P – 46,387t in 2018 (10.7%
                      increase)
                     2019 - Stabilisation

                  Stabilised urea sales in 2018 were
                  3,241t which is less than 1% of total
                  N fertiliser sales

Nitrogen (N) loads being lost from
catchments with N issues from
agriculture, and catchments without
N issues*
*EPA 2019

Nitrates Derogation review 2019 - 2020
 The review examined further opportunities for derogation farmers to
  improve efficiencies and continue to reduce their environmental
  footprint with particular regard to water, climate and air quality.

 Compulsory lime Programme (170 kgN/ha)
 Low Emission Slurry Spreading (170 kgN/ha)
 Reduction in Crude Protein in Concentrates (170 kgN/ha)
 Increased use of clover in swards
 Training
   • Nutrient Use Efficiency (ASSAP/ACP Programmes)
   • Grass measurement or Training on derogation farms
 Biodiversity Measures
 Land Eligibility

Nutrient Management Plan 2019
 Detailed Liming plan - maximise the nutrient use efficiency
 Front loaded over 4 years for derogation applicants 2020
  onwards
 Any samples active for 2020 will be used
 Lime must be applied within 2 years and front loaded to year 1
 Weather conditions to be taken into account
 Conacre don’t require liming unless 2 years in derogation
 Peat soils, High Mo areas etc to be considered
 Includes tillage lands on derogation Farms

Training Requirement 2020-2021
 Adopting best practice in nutrient use efficiency and
  management and the protection of water
 Mandatory Environmental Training Course
  Specification will cover modules
     • NMP and P Buildup,
     • Water
     • Gaseous emissions and
     • Biodiversity
 12-15 hours of training in modules above
 Previous training will be taken into account

 9

Grassland Management 2019-2020
 Record the grass produced annually on the farm
 Regular pasture measuring and budgeting on farm,
  improving nutrient use efficiency, grass production
  and utilisation
 Minimum number of grass measurement from the
  whole farm
 PBI or similar software
 No need to record for Spring/Autumn rotation planner

10   Teagasc Presentation Footer

Slurry on Derogation Farms 2019-2020
 Increase the efficiency of livestock manure manures on farm and
  to reducing ammonia losses.
 All slurry to be spread by LESS after the 15/4/2020
 All Slurry on the holding from the 12/1/2021 must be spread by
  LESS
 Must be recorded on 2019 records onwards
 Farmers exporting slurry to come under 170 spread home used
  manure using LESS

  11

Other changes 2019-2020
 Export forms for slurry movements to be the 31st Oct
 Possibly text message system for supplier and receiving
  farmer of slurry
 New grass reseeding completed by derogation farmers must
  include minimum clover content (1.5kgs/acre)
 Normal weed control practices and inclusion rates
 reduce the crude protein in concentrate feeds for grazing
  livestock during grazing season
     • 2020: Max 16% CP between 1st April and 15th September
     • 2021: Max 15% CP between 1st April and 15th September
     • Potentially 14 % after that
 Animal Health issues can increase CP
12

Land Eligibility 2019….
 Commonage/rough grazing will not be included for the
  calculation of the chemical fertiliser allowance

 Reduce the chemical fertiliser allowance on marginal
  lands &reduce the risk of losses to the environment

 SR calculations for RG/Commonage will be at a limit of
  170 and the grassland up to 250

 Commonage and Rough grazing as declared on BPS

13   Teagasc Presentation Footer

Biodiversity Measures 2019….
 Biodiversity loss - proposed derogation farmers
  implement the measures in the All Island Pollinator Plan.
 One of 4 measures to be included in the 2020 plan
      • 3 year cutting cycle
      • Cut in rotation Autumn/Spring
      • One flowering whitethorn/blackthorn per hedge

 14      Teagasc Presentation Footer

New water protection measures GSR>170NpH

Exclusion of bovines from watercourses
  •   Effective from 1st January 2021

  •   Fence 1.5m from top of watercourse bank

  •   For grassland stocking rate >170kgs/ha

Water troughs set back 20m + from watercourses
  •   Effective from 1st January 2021

  •   For grassland stocking rate >170kgs/ha

  •   Accounts for 12,350 farms and 1/3 of national bovine numbers

  •   If watercourse with road beside it and trough on field side it may be ok

Both apply to derogation farmers & farmers who export slurry to remain under 170NpH

New water protection measures – all farmers

 Prevention of direct runoff from farm roadways to waters

  Effective from 1st January 2021
  Waters defined as anything that could convey water (dry drain up to
   a river)
  As farmers upgrade roadways they should camber the roads away
   from waters
  DAFM specifications to follow

Farm Roadways

Thank for your attention

                                   Questions

18   Teagasc Presentation Footer