Plea for extension of slurry deadline

AN extension to the Autumn slurry spreading deadline – coming up on Tuesday next, October 15 – is being sought by the IFA as West of Ireland farmers look out on saturated fields this week.

With little prospect of ground conditions improving between now and Tuesday, the IFA are making the case to the Dept. of Agriculture for an open-ended extension to allow for slurry spreading during the ‘first good week’ that comes our way.

Galway IFA Environmental Chairman, Henry Walsh, said that while only a small enough number of farmers would need to spread slurry this time of the year, the pressure had to be relieved on those with capacity problems over the coming months.

“We’ve experienced very heavy rain since early August and really it hasn’t stopped since. There is just no way that ground conditions will be suitable for spreading slurry between now and Tuesday, given the current weather forecast.

“What we need is just a bit of flexibility that takes into account the extremely wet conditions we’ve endured since early August. When ever the good week comes – and it could be November – that is the appropriate time to spread slurry where capacity issues have arisen,” said Henry Walsh.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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