ICMSA wants Minister to inform farmers of their fertiliser allowances

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine should immediately inform all farmers of the amount of fertiliser they are legally allowed to spread between now and the Closing Date as there is utter confusion on the question, according to ICMSA Deputy President, Eamon Carroll.

“In the face of the fodder shortage signalled by the ICMSA Fodder Survey, farmers find themselves in a scenario where they do not know whether they can spread additional fertiliser that will grow sufficient fodder. That’s just absurd and there’s an onus on the Minister and his Department to provide this information to farmers immediately.  The Department have the Fertiliser Register in place, they know the number of livestock on each farm, and they know the number of hectares along with the slurry imports -exports, so the Department have all the information required to provide clear guidance to farmers on the remaining amounts of N and P that they can spread within the legal limits before the 15 September. They must utilise that information and communicate with the individual farmers what their individual situations are in terms of fertiliser usage by that date (15 September)”, said Mr. Carroll, who also chairs the Farm & Rural Affairs Committee.

“There is a very serious fodder issue at farm level and the stress around that is being multiplied by the utter confusion in relation to what a farmer can and cannot spread.  The Minister has the information available, and he should immediately inform farmers of their remaining fertiliser allowances for the year so that farmers can make informed decisions to grow more grass and fodder, while staying within the prescribed limits.  Very bluntly, we have enough to be worrying about without having to guess whether we can – or cannot – use fertiliser to grow the badly needed grass for fodder. The Minister can at least remove that additional pressure by collating the data they hold on to the individual farms and then communicating the remaining fertiliser allowance available to individual farmers. That needs to happen immediately”, said Mr. Carroll.

Ends          16 July 2024

Eamon Carroll, 087-6312945

Deputy President, ICMSA.

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office