Derogation extended to 2014 - Sky continues not to fall

The sky continues not to fall for Marfrig and the Northern Ireland Poultry industry with the announcement of the renewal of the Nitrates Directive Derogation to 2014.

From the outside it appears that Moy Park has had an exceptional year.  It returned to strong profit and acquired O'Kane Poultry giving the merged group a very strong hold over the local industry.  Last week's big news was that the O'Kane turkey processing business which was under severe threat due to a change in EU legislation is back with a vengeance; with a new multi million pound plant supported by InvestNI and the European Development fund commissioned in time for Christmas!!

All of this is great news for the Northern Ireland economy and everyone at CALNI welcomes it wholeheartedly.

It does of course further undermine the notion that the sky is falling and the local industry could fold at any moment!!

Best,

Danny
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

222/10
23 November 2010

Ministers announce renewal of the Nitrates Derogation to 2014

Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA and Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA have announced that the Nitrates Directive derogation has been renewed for a further four years. 

Approval of the local derogation application has been secured in Brussels following a positive vote by the EU Nitrates Committee. The nitrates derogation enables intensive grassland farms to operate at higher than average stocking rates in return for undertaking additional measures to manage manures and chemical fertilisers.

Announcing the derogation renewal, Minister Gildernew commented: “Operating under a derogation makes good economic sense and is good for the environment. It enables grassland cattle farms to maximise the efficient use of manures for grass production. This EU approval is the conclusion of a lengthy application process and detailed scrutiny by the EU Commission of the scientific case we put forward to support our application.

“DARD advisers will be providing information workshops for farmers who are considering applying or reapplying for a derogation next year. I would encourage those farmers to attend these meetings as they will get advice on whether the derogation is the best option for their farm business to take.”

Also commenting on the nitrates derogation renewal, Minister Poots said: “Renewal of the derogation is good news for local farmers and the environment. Some 150 grassland farmers currently benefit from the derogation. The derogation is important as it allows the sustainable use of grazing livestock manures to meet the higher crop nutrient requirements on these intensively stocked cattle farms.”

“As the derogation helps to protect water quality and promotes best farming practice, I would encourage more farmers to consider applying next year to benefit from the provision which has been secured by the Departments.” 

Notes to editors: 

1. The EC Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) requires Member States to introduce action programmes to reduce nitrates from agricultural sources entering the water environment and to review their action programmes every four years. 

2. One key measure of the Nitrates Action Programme is an upper farm limit of 170kg nitrogen per hectare per year (N/ha/year) from livestock manure.

3. The Nitrates Directive allows farmers with intensive grassland farms and higher than average stocking rates to apply to operate under a derogation and extend this limit to a maximum of 250kg N/ha/year.

4. NI was successful in its application to the EU for renewal of the Nitrates Derogation for the period 2011 – 2014.

5. Farms operating under the nitrates derogation must undertake additional nutrient management measures which include:
· preparing a fertilisation plan by 1 March each year;
· preparing an annual fertilisation account and submitting it to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) by 1 March the following year. 
· having at least 80% of the agricultural area in grassland; and 
· having a farm phosphorus balance of no more than 10kg phosphorus per hectare per year.

6. Anyone wishing to obtain derogation for 2011 must submit a completed application form to the NIEA on or before 1 March 2011. Application forms will be available from thehttp://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/water-home/agri_regs/derogation.htm or by telephoning 028 9262 3189.

7. DARD Countryside Management Delivery staff at your local DARD Office can provide more information on the Nitrates Directive Derogation. 

8. All media enquiries DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.