THE deadline date for the spreading of slurry has been extended by one week from September 30 to October 8, due to the recent period of wet weather.

Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue, confirmed the decision last week saying that it was based on the unseasonable weather conditions experienced this summer.

“The weather has impacted on trafficability and has limited the opportunities for possible slurry applications by farmers and contractors.

“Slurry is a valuable source of nutrients and is best utilised using low emission spreading (LESS) and especially in spring when growth is strongest.

“The majority of slurry has been spread well in advance of the closed period and this must be acknowledged and indeed commended. This limited extension will allow farmers to spread any remaining slurry in the best conditions available to them,” said the Minister.

Connacht IFA Regional Chair, Pat Murphy, told the Farming Tribune, that the extension to the slurry spreading deadline was to be welcomed given the weather issues faced by farmers over the past few months.

“I know of farmers who tried to get slurry out last July, but they just had to leave it due to the ground and weather conditions. We’re after an exceptionally wet period since late June – IFA wanted the date extended to October 15, but at least this extra week will be a help.

Last week, Ballinasloe area councillors at their meeting had called on the Minister for Agriculture to extend the deadline because of the adverse weather conditions.

Cllr. Peter Keaveney (FG) said torrential rain in recent weeks had left it impossible for farmers to carry out slurry spreading, adding that if the cut-off date of September 30 wasn’t extended, many farmers would miss the 2023 window. The period during which farmers can spread organic fertilisers in Galway runs from January 16 to September 30 under new regulations which came into force this year, but Cllr Keaveney said these calendar-based rules were not effective.

Pictured: Cllr. Peter Keaveney: Extension badly needed.