Irelands Nitrates Action Programme Leanne Roche DAFM Nitrates Division Johnstown Castle Wexford
Presentation Overview • Water Framework Directive • Irelands Nitrates Action Programme • Water Quality 2010 – 2015 • Nitrates Action Programme Review 4 th NAP – new measures • • Irelands Nitrates Derogation • The future of Irelands NAP • Conclusions
Water Framework Directive • The EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) requires all MS to protect and improve water quality in all waters • Applies to rivers, lakes, groundwater and transitional coastal waters • Requirement – prevent deterioration in waters, achieving at least good status in all waters • Nitrates Directive is the main agricultural measure under the WFD – Aims to prevent pollution of waters from N & P arising from agricultural sources – Promoting the use of good agricultural practices • Other complementary measures have been identified to reduce pollution of waters
Complementary measures for Water Quality • Other complementary measures are necessary to reduce pollution of waters from agricultural sources • These include: – Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 – Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) – Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) – Knowledge transfer (KT) – Locally led schemes • GLAS – approx €1.3bn funding over course of RDP – 50,000 farmers – 45% of all GLAS actions benefit water quality
GLAS measures • Grass margins – buffer zones to prevent nutrient runoff (390km) • Riparian Margins – stabilise river banks (89km) • Protection of watercourses from bovines – Prevents direct contamination (16,600km) • Low emission slurry spreading (LESS) – 4,900 applicants • Catch crops (24,800 ha) • Low input permanent pasture (281, 600 ha)
Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP) • Established under Nitrates Regulations to evaluate the effectiveness of regulations • 6 agricultural catchments – >300 participating farmers – full advisory service – Phase 1 – 2008 – 2011 – Phase 2 – 2012 – 2015 – Phase 3 – 2016 – 2019 • Website Link http://www.teagasc.ie/agcatchments
ACP Research Highlights • Nutrient use efficiency increasing • Farm gate nutrient balances declining • Decreasing % of excessively high P soils • Water quality trends showing signs of recovery (lag times) • Closed spreading period is effective in reducing losses • Significant climate effect on losses • Pathway is important • Contact with an agricultural advisor OR advisor plus farmer discussion group has a positive effect on NMP adoption
Irelands Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) • Each MS within WFD drawn up Nitrates Action Programmes • Irelands first NAP came into operation in 2006 – Gives effect of the nitrates regulations – Designed to prevent pollution of watercourses from agricultural sources – To protect and improve water quality • NAP reviewed every 4 years – First review was 2010 – revised NAP2 – Second review was 2013 – revised NAP3 – Third review was 2017 – revised NAP 4 • Given legal effect by (Good Agricultural Practice For Protection Of Waters ) Regulations 2017 – S.I. 605 of 2017
Irelands Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) There are a number of requirements for farmers under the NAP, some of which are: closed period for spreading of Green cover requirement on organic and chemical fertilisers tillage crops Max 170 kg manure N/ha Max N and P fertilisation rates Minimum manure storage Maintain buffer zones adjacent requirements to watercourses Farmers must also keep records for each calendar year (1 st January – 31 st December) • Area farmed • Cropping regime • 7,000 derogation farms Derogation farms must soil Types of livestock and livestock numbers sample and get NMP • Storage facilities on farms
Water Quality 2010 - 2015 • Marked reduction in N & P levels in rivers over past 20 years • Nationally, water quality has remained stable since 2010 • Some water bodies have improved while others have deteriorated • Most polluted sites are eliminated, but decline in pristine waters • 43% of monitored river water bodies has less than good ecological status • 21 sites achieved the highest EU quality ratings for 2013-2015 – Significant decrease on previous years • 6 river water bodies categorised as bad – Previously 19 in 2007-2009
N & P Trends in Rivers Nitrogen Phosphorus
Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) Review • Reviewed every 4 years – 2010, 2013, 2017 • Review Group in 2017 – Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, – Environmental Protection Agency, – Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, – Teagasc • Public consultation • 28 Submissions in 2017 consultation – Sources of pollution – Soil fertility – Simplification of regulations • New Nitrates Regulation (2018-2021) - S.I. No. 605/2017
Irelands 4 th NAP – new water protection measures • Exclusion of bovines from watercourses • For farms stocked above 170 kg N/ha • Water troughs set back 20m + from watercourses • For farms stocked above 170 kg N/ha • Prevention of direct runoff from farm roadways to waters Above three measures effective from 1 st January 2021 • • Prevention of run off resulting from poaching
Irelands 4 th NAP – New soil measures • Soil OM testing in designated peaty areas (Teagasc – EPA subsoils map) unless assume P index 3 – Minimising the risk of P losses from risky peaty soils • Soil sampling frequency increased – Was 1 soil sample every 8ha and valid for 5 years – Now 1 soil sample every 5ha and valid for 4 years • P build-up programme for low P soils – Extra allowance for low P soils – currently 62% of soils have low P – Must participate in training programme – Must take soil samples and get NMP from FAS advisor • Allowance to hold back 20 kg P for winter cereals Closed period 15 th September but most winter cereals sown after this date – Can hold back 20 kg P and apply up to 31 st October but must be incorporated –
Irelands Nitrates Derogation • Nitrates derogation allows stocking rates up to 250 kg N/ha – Important for Food Wise 2025 expansion targets • There are certain requirements to be eligible for nitrates derogation – Must make an annual online application to DAFM – Must be farming a holding that has at least 80% grass – Must have grazing livestock – Must have soil samples and fertiliser plan submitted to DAFM Fertiliser accounts must be submitted to DAFM by 31 st March of following year – • Nitrates derogation farmers must not import livestock manure • Nitrates derogation farmers are subject to farm inspection
Irelands Nitrates Derogation 2014 2015 2016 2017 No. Derogation Farms 5,800 6,300 6,800 7,000 Area under Der. Farms (ha) 332,200 351,900 409,800 432,300 Average Farm Size (ha) 58 56 60 62 Livestock Units/ Der. Farm 139 146 149 157 8000 7000 • No. der. farms increased 20% from 2014 to 2017 No. of derogation farmers 6000 • Area under der. farms increased by 30% 5000 • Livestock units/ der. farm increased by 13% 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 2014 2015 2016 2017
Total herd (m's) 7.6 7.4 7.2 Herd Summary 7.0 6.8 • Total herd 7.4m (June ‘17) 6.6 6.4 • Increase in 0.9m in the 6.2 National Herd over the last 7 6.0 years (+13.4%) 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total herd Cow Summary Cow Numbers in June ('000 Head) 3000 • Growth driven by growth in 2500 dairy cows (+28%) 2000 Cows • Decline in the Suckler cows 1500 Dairy cows (-4%) Other cows 1000 500 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Fertiliser sales 1990 - 2017 500,000 450,000 400,000 350,000 Tonnes of nutrient 300,000 250,000 Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) 200,000 Potassium (K) 150,000 100,000 50,000 - 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 8% increase in N, 12% increase in P, 12% increase in K
Nitrates derogation – new rules 2018 The new conditions applying for derogation since 2018 50% of all slurry produced must be applied by the 15 th June annually. • • After this date slurry may only be applied using low emission equipment. – This has additional benefits of a reduction in ammonia emissions • Derogation farmers must have sufficient storage for all livestock manure and soiled water produced on the holding.
Future of Irelands NAP • Water quality has remained stable since 2010 with no improvements • Under the WFD MS must achieve at least good status in all waters • Ireland Failed to meet planned national target of 13% improvement in water quality in 2010 – 2015 six year period • If water quality does not improve, this will put more stringent rules on NAP – More requirements for farmers to reduce agricultural losses • This will also put nitrates derogation at risk which will have implications for meeting Food Wise 2025 targets – Loss of derogation will result in a need to cull livestock • Food Wise 2025 sets out a ten year plan for the agri-food sector – 85% increase in exports to €19 billion – 60% increase in primary production to €10 billion
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