2675. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in light of the prolonged drought conditions experienced by farmers this year and the resulting significant reduction in grass and crop growth, he will review the current closing dates for the application of chemical fertiliser and the spreading of slurry; if he will consider extending both deadlines by a period of two weeks to allow farmers to recover some of the growth lost during the exceptionally dry conditions; if he will engage with Teagasc, farming organisations and other relevant stakeholders as part of such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61210/26]

2696. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the current closing dates for the application of chemical fertiliser and slurry given of the prolonged drought conditions experienced during the 2026 growing season; if his Department has undertaken, or intends to undertake, an assessment of the impact of the drought on grass growth and fodder production; if he will engage with Teagasc and farming representative organisations regarding the introduction a temporary extension to the current spreading deadlines without compromising water quality or environmental protections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60999/26]

2711. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review the current closing dates for chemical fertiliser (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61549/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2675, 2696 and 2711 together.

In the first instance, the closing dates referred to are set out in legislation enacted by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, TD, commonly known as the Nitrates Regulations or Good Agriculture Practice for the protection of water regulations. I work closely with the Minister in this area.

Over recent weeks my Department has been in ongoing engagement with Teagasc, farm organisations and the wider industry, including through the National Fodder and Food Security Committee and the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group with regard to grass growth and the fodder situation on farms.

There is regional and farm-to-farm variation in the degree to which grass growth rates were affected by the drought. There was a ‘brown drought’ in the southeast of the country where soil moisture deficits were most acute, a ‘green drought’ in the south, midlands and north east, while most farms in the west and north west are effectively growing grass in a ‘business as usual’ scenario. However, since late August all drought impacted areas have received significant rainfall.

Now that we have rain, the science is clear that the earlier nutrients are applied to land, the better the response will be in terms of producing forage.

Farmers are encouraged to spread fertiliser and slurry as soon as possible, at the appropriate rate based on crop demand in line with Teagasc's advice.

I will continue to monitor the situation in respect of closing dates and engage with stakeholders with whom we have fully engaged with on this issue. Stakeholders are very aware of the benefits of early application and the risk, from a water quality point of view, of delayed application of nutrient.