Alarming Decline of Soil Fertility Levels Must Be Addressed in Nitrates Review – IFA

IFA National Environment and Rural Affairs Chairman Harold Kingston has called on the Department of Agriculture to urgently address the “alarming decline” in soil fertility levels, particularly soil phosphorus levels.

Speaking after a recent meeting between IFA commodity chairmen and senior officials from the Department of Agriculture regarding the current review of the nitrates regulations Mr. Kingston said, “The Department accepts that nutrient levels in soils are declining. However urgent action is now required. Many soils are nutrient hungry, with over 50% of soil samples taken by Teagasc in indices 1 and 2. This figure is set to rise to over 80% over the next decade if it is not addressed in this review. This will lead to a substantial loss in grass output and impact on farm profitability.”
Harold Kingston called for the continuation of the nitrates derogation to support the growth and development of the sector and a more appropriate definition of dirty water, to allow it to be spread over the winter months.

IFA has also called for changes to the volume of broiler litter that can be spread up to 2017, to maximise the use of broiler litters and address the challenge of finding customer farms in close range to the poultry units.

On tillage IFA has renewed its call for the removal of the ban on winter ploughing for spring crop and the restriction on incorporating fertilizer P into the seedbed of a crop.