Online Portal Launched For 2024 Nitrates Derogation Applications

Mar 20, 2024 | Climate Change, Farm Viability

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D, has officially launched the online portal for the 2024 Nitrates Derogation applications. Dairy farmers can now also declare their Nitrates Dairy Banding through the ICBF portal, and the Nitrogen & Phosphorus statements for 2023 are accessible online.

  • Visit www.agfood.ie to conveniently submit your 2024 Nitrates Derogation applications.
  • Dairy farmers can now declare their Nitrates Dairy Band using the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) website.

Minister McConalogue emphasised that the Nitrates Derogation empowers farmers to operate at higher stocking rates, with environmental conditions and Nitrates Directive requirements in place. He urged more intensively stocked farmers to engage in the application process and consult their agricultural advisor regarding the derogation.

Farmers opting out of the derogation, compliance with regulations can be maintained by managing livestock or exporting slurry/farmyard manure. The deadline for derogation applications and dairy banding submissions was April 19th, 2024. Farmers who applied for derogation in 2023 must also submit Fertilizer Accounts for 2023 by the same date.

Continuing from the previous year, Nitrates banding for dairy cows is reintroduced in 2024, facilitated through the ICBF website. Dairy farmers not consenting to data sharing with ICBF need to complete a manual form and provide milk purchaser statements. The 2024 Nitrates banding form is downloadable from DAFM’s website.

As part of the enhancements, dairy farmers can now declare their intent to feed lower crude protein to their herd through the ICBF portal, enabling a reduced N excretion rate.

Minister McConalogue noted that to support farmers in planning for changes in 2024, he is offering dairy farmers the option to declare their intention to feed lower crude protein concentrates. This opt-in measure is exclusively available to those declaring their band through ICBF.

Access your Nitrogen and Phosphorus statements (N&P Statements) for the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2023 (cattle only) on the Department’s online system here.

Related Articles