Teagasc proposes Nitrates Action Programme plan changes
Allowing 20 kg/ha of fertiliser phosphorous to be incorporated, when sowing for winter barley at soil P index 1 and 2 before October 31, is one of the amendments proposed by Teagasc, in the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) consultation.
The consultation is part of the Irish review of the programme with the European Commission, with a view to putting in place an agreed NAP from 2018 to 2021.
According to the submission by Teagasc, changes in practices on Irish farms have reduced the risk of nutrient loss to water from agriculture, in the four years since the last NAP review.
Teagasc proposed eight amendments to the existing good agricultural practice regulations, with a view to achieving more effective protection of water quality, and/or more efficient production without increased risk of nutrient loss to water.
Teagasc said insufficient P supply at sowing, due to the current closed period prohibiting P applications, is likely to restrict early growth of winter barley, particularly where soil P index is low, ultimately leading to yield reductions.
Teagasc also proposed removal of stored organic P from the calculation of farm P balance, and for calculating the maximum chemical phosphorus allowed onto a holding.
Teagasc said the current regulation with regard to home–produced manures recycled within the farm unnecessarily complicates calculations, and can seriously compromise soil fertility (P) and farm productivity.
Teagasc proposed increased phosphorus build-up rates for farmed soil, saying P allowances for build-up from P Index 1 and 2 are currently too low to facilitate restoration to P Index 3 in a reasonable time.
This greatly hindered farmers, reducing overall environmental and economic sustainability.
Teagasc said the current system of basing nutrient management plans on actual year’s records causes problems for farmers and planners. The plans should be prepared before the end of the closed period, to allow purchase of fertiliser in advance,
According to Teagasc, farmers often leave a large safety margin for chemical N and P limits in the plans, which contributes to undersupply of soil nutrients
Teagasc proposed the plans be based on the previous year’s data.
Teagasc also proposed import of organic N sources such as pig slurry be allowed onto moderately stocked grassland farms, replacing chemical fertiliser, and providing additional organic fertiliser spread lands.
Teagasc proposed allowing carry-over from one year to the next of “organic fertilisers” on farms that import them, pointing out that current rules inhibited farmers from importing and storing manures in a timely manner.
Teagasc proposed fertiliser N recommendations for potato crops be adjusted, to meet the requirements of new potato groups and varieties for specific market requirements.
There was a similar proposal for vegetable crops, because current regulations are based on recommendations from the 1960s which are neither agronomically nor environmentally sustainable.
According to the Nitrates Action Programme submission by Teagasc, the Food Wise 2025 increase in dairy cow numbers is expected to be offset by reductions in the non-dairy bovine herd, which would result in a small (2.9%) increase in national bovine manure N excretion between 2005-07 and 2030.
