Nitrate regulations - Green cover on tillage ground

The Government has recently published Ireland’s Fifth Nitrates Action Programme which contains specific measures to protect water from nutrient loses arising from agricultural sources. One of the important changes concerning tillage farmers is the establishment of a green cover through natural regeneration techniques on tillage ground. 

High nitrate levels in rivers have been recorded by the EPA in predominantly tillage areas in the South East. While there are many sources of nitrate loss to ground water, surplus nitrogen in the soil at harvest time not used by growing crops can contribute to these loses. Early sown catch crops and establishment of green cover can help capture some of this nitrogen which could otherwise be leached to ground water by rainfall. Essentially tillage farmers are now required to take measures to establish green cover as soon as possible post-harvest to protect waters from nutrient loses.  

The regulation states that;

‘Shallow cultivation or sowing of a crop must take place within 7 days of baling of straw post-harvest. Where straw is chopped shallow cultivation or sowing a crop must take place within 7 days of harvest. In all circumstances, shallow cultivation or sowing of a crop must take place within 14 days of harvesting. In certain weather conditions, the Minister, in discussion with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, may advise when this should not apply’

It is recognised that some uncultivated cover must be retained through the winter period to support seed-eating birds.   Consequently, there may be small changes to the requirement for shallow cultivation on all harvested crops but they are not available at this time.