WITH the reopening of the slurry spreading season since January 16th last, farmers have been strongly advised to carefully check their current stocking rates if using the splash plate application method.

Any farmer with a stocking rate of 100kg N/ha [down from 100kg N/ha] or above must use the LESS [Low Emission Slurry Spreading] method for spreading slurry – either the trailing show or dribble bar.

Galway IFA Chair, Stephen Canavan, told the Farming Tribune that the new stocking rate rules would bring many farmers in the West of Ireland into the LESS slurry spreading regime.

“The changes, which came into law from January 1st of this year, will have implications for many farmers who previously would have been well under the 130kg N/ha limit.

“To ensure that they avoid any penalties, farmers should check with their advisors or farm consultants on their stocking rate. If they are above the new 100kg limit, then they will have to use the LESS method for spreading their slurry,” Stephen Canavan said.

He also said that the change would have major cost implications for farmers, with a new trailing shoe unit costing well over €15,000 while there would also be higher charges with contractors.

“What we would like to see more research on is a system that’s used in Germany [Moscha] using a swivel spout method which can be attached to the back of the slurry tank and which only costs in the region of €1,500.

“This has proven to be a very cost effective method of reducing slurry gas emissions into the atmosphere and we want this to be looked at as a viable option going forward. If it’s good enough for Germany, then why is it not good enough for us here in Ireland,” said Stephen Canavan.

The Moscha unit – designed and developed by a German farmer – works on the basis of forming larger droplets than a conventional splash plate which in turn reduces slurry gas emissions into the atmosphere.

Teagasc has advised all farmers to check their stocking rate figures with their advisors or consultants before making a decision on their slurry spreading method for this year.

Richard Gill, Teagasc Advisor for the Galway-Clare region said last week that the introduction of the new slurry spreading rules ‘will lead to big changes on the way slurry is spread on many farms’.

“These new regulations will affect a large cohort of farmers and many may not be aware that they fall into this category,” Richard Gill advised last week.

Pictured: The German designed Moscha slurry spreading attachment which reduces slurry gas emissions at a fraction of the cost of a trailing shoe or dribble bar.