Time to draw up a slurry application plan

Under the Nitrates Directive Action Programme, slurry may be applied to land between 1 February and 14 October provided that field and weather conditions are suitable.

Slurry, manure, dirty water and other farm effluents have the potential to cause serious damage to waterways. It is therefore important to remember that there are certain areas on the farm where spreading must not take place. These include margins alongside waterways, lakes, boreholes, wells and limestone features such as swallow holes and collapse features.

By preparing and following an application plan for slurry, manure and farm effluents, you and/or your contractor can easily identify land suitable for spreading. Provided that the plan is adhered to, pollution risk from land application will be minimised. Drawing up an application plan involves colour coding your farm map to indicate the suitability of fields throughout the farm for spreading slurry, manure, dirty water and other farm effluents.

Further guidance on the preparation of an application plan is available in the draft revised Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Prevention of Pollution of Water, Air and Soil. This is currently subject to public consultation, ending on 12 March 2007.

Anyone wishing to receive a copy of this consultation document should contact Countryside Management Branch, DARD, Lindesay Hall, Loughry Campus, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone BT80 9AA. Tel. 028 8675 7507, Fax 028 8675 7511 or visit the DARD website. It is also available on the Northern Ireland Departments’ Consultation Register at www.consultationni.gov.uk