Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy are still “in discussions” over extending the deadline for slurry spreading, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing has told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Farmers cannot spread slurry after midnight on Monday until spring time.
Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice has said that Government ministers need to “cop on and grant an extension to the slurry spreading deadline”.
'Common sense must prevail'
“Common sense must prevail in this matter. Irish farmers have had to put up with consistent rainfall since early August.
“As it stands, Met Éireann currently has a status yellow rainfall warning in place for Connacht, Munster, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Wexford, Offaly and Westmeath. This warning will remain in place for the entire day.
“We are being warned about the risk of localised flooding. How can farmers possibly spread slurry in conditions like this?
“Do Ministers Creed and Murphy want to see slurry flowing into rivers? All because of a date that they had the power to extend, but didn’t.
“These ministers need to cop on and grant the extension until the end of this month. Farmers do not want to spread slurry in poor conditions; that is just common sense,” he said.
‘Backed into a corner’
The Roscommon-Galway TD said that farmers are being backed into a corner.
“Farmers, particularly in the west of Ireland, have spread little or no slurry in the past two months.
“They are now being forced to house cattle early as field conditions deteriorate. Opportunities to spread slurry have been limited in recent weeks due to weather and ground conditions.
“If you look at Met Éireann, taking its Athenry station for example, total rainfall for August and September of this year was double what it was in 2018.
“Common sense needs to prevail in order to give farmers a chance to get some slurry spread. Otherwise, it will turn into an animal welfare issue in a couple of weeks when tanks are at capacity.
“Both Minister Creed and Murphy have an important decision to make and they better not delay,” he said.
A number of farm organisations have also called for the deadline to be extended.
Read more
Warning of heavy rain with risk of flooding
Five tips for closing off grazing paddocks in autumn
No plans to change slurry spreading deadline – minister
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy are still “in discussions” over extending the deadline for slurry spreading, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing has told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Farmers cannot spread slurry after midnight on Monday until spring time.
Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice has said that Government ministers need to “cop on and grant an extension to the slurry spreading deadline”.
'Common sense must prevail'
“Common sense must prevail in this matter. Irish farmers have had to put up with consistent rainfall since early August.
“As it stands, Met Éireann currently has a status yellow rainfall warning in place for Connacht, Munster, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Wexford, Offaly and Westmeath. This warning will remain in place for the entire day.
“We are being warned about the risk of localised flooding. How can farmers possibly spread slurry in conditions like this?
“Do Ministers Creed and Murphy want to see slurry flowing into rivers? All because of a date that they had the power to extend, but didn’t.
“These ministers need to cop on and grant the extension until the end of this month. Farmers do not want to spread slurry in poor conditions; that is just common sense,” he said.
‘Backed into a corner’
The Roscommon-Galway TD said that farmers are being backed into a corner.
“Farmers, particularly in the west of Ireland, have spread little or no slurry in the past two months.
“They are now being forced to house cattle early as field conditions deteriorate. Opportunities to spread slurry have been limited in recent weeks due to weather and ground conditions.
“If you look at Met Éireann, taking its Athenry station for example, total rainfall for August and September of this year was double what it was in 2018.
“Common sense needs to prevail in order to give farmers a chance to get some slurry spread. Otherwise, it will turn into an animal welfare issue in a couple of weeks when tanks are at capacity.
“Both Minister Creed and Murphy have an important decision to make and they better not delay,” he said.
A number of farm organisations have also called for the deadline to be extended.
Read more
Warning of heavy rain with risk of flooding
Five tips for closing off grazing paddocks in autumn
No plans to change slurry spreading deadline – minister
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