Collins is seeking more time for slurry spreading

A TEMPORARY 16-day extension to allow slurry spreading after October 15th has been called for, so farmers can complete ‘vital work’. 

Deputy Michael Collins TD has made the call to Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to extend the current regulations which do not permit slurry spreading beyond October 15th.

‘The exceptional rainfall in recent weeks has caused flooding of farmlands in many areas or has left land waterlogged, liable to severe damage by machinery and of course, unsuitable for the land-spreading of livestock manures for long periods of time by the many farm contractors,’ he said. 

‘Despite adopting best practice in machine operation and being mindful of the need to minimise field surface damage and run-off risks, many farm contractors now find it impossible to complete their normal land-spreading operations, before the start of the prohibited period on October 15th,’ the Goleen-based deputy added.

In a letter to the Minister, Deputy Collins called for a special 16-day extension in order to help farmers complete the spreading work before the winter months set in.

‘This will provide the farming community with an opportunity, weather and ground conditions permitting, to complete land-spreading activities that for reasons outside of their control, have been curtailed during the last few months due to the exceptional weather condition.’