Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025
Specific Details
LESS (Low Emission Slurry Spreading) Requirements
Intended results
To highlight that the mandatory use of Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) technologies is provided for, on a progressive basis, within the Nitrates Regulation to promote reduced ammonia emissions and good nutrient management practices.
To stress that, although there has been a significant increase in the utilisation of agricultural contractor services and/or investment (often with TAMS grant-aid) in trailing shoe or dribble bar technologies as a result, and positives gained, the LESS requirements for farms stocked between 100 and 130kgs organic N must be reviewed by Government as a matter of urgency.
That alternative options are not practical, economically viable or even safe to use, with the net return by way of ammonia reductions questionable, relatively speaking, when compared to volume of those already using LESS techniques.
That most of the estimated 15,000 farms within the 100 and 130kg organic N category are small-scale lowly stocked farms, operating on very fragmented holdings and/or difficult ground. Not all will apply slurry, but most will operate with conventional two/three bay slatted tanks in compact farm holdings and a 1,100 / 1,300-gallon tank with splash-plate for slurry storage & nutrient management.
This makes retrofitting of dribble bar technologies and/or accessibility for agri contractors with LESS technologies prohibitive. Given their scale too, even with TAMS ( Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme ) support, LESS will prove cost prohibitive from a farm investment perspective.
That a compromise solution is required. More practical arrangements for these lower stocked farms toward ammonia abatement might include, for example a continued transition from summer to spring applications; incorporation of urease inhibitors, acidification of slurry and/or a reduction of crude protein in supplementary diets. Another potential cost-effective ammonia reduction technology is the Moscha Swivel Spout slurry spreading unit.
Research into this option is immediately required to establish if this option, potentially in addition to other abatement measures such as slurry acidification, would achieve the necessary reduction in ammonia emissions while also reducing investment costs and ensuring farmers with more challenging land-types can meet reduced ammonia-emissions requirements.
To request a meeting with the Minister.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Baden Powell IFA Tipperary North Chair, John Murphy IFA Environment Chair
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (2-5)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Jackie Healy-Rae
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Michael Healy-Rae
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Martin Heydon
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)