NITRATES DEROGATION OVERVIEW Ireland’s nitrates derogation provides farmers an opportunity to farm at higher stocking rates, above 170 kg livestock manure nitrogen / Ha, subject to additional conditions designed to protect the environment. The derogation is an important facility and almost 7,000 intensively stocked farmers availed of it in 2018. In effect, a farmer must not exceed 2 dairy cows per Ha without a derogation but can farm at almost 3 cows per Ha if approved for a derogation. New grass reseeding completed by derogation farmers must include clover. From 2020 a minimum of 1.5 kg/ha naked clover seed OR 2.5 kg/ha of pelleted clover seed is required for all new grass reseeds. Either white (grazing) or red (cutting), mixture of clovers can be used. Over sowing of grass seed mixtures with clover post weed control will be permitted provided it’s done in the year of reseeding.
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Mastercrop Grass and Forage Seed Brochure 2020
