Slurry spreading deadline
Senator Mulherin raised the looming slurry-spreading deadline and said wet weather was preventing some farmers from complying. She explained that no blanket extension was planned, though exceptional circumstances could still be considered.
If there is opposition to it, the matter will go before a judge.
I want to highlight the looming deadline for spreading slurry. Farmers have until midnight on Saturday, 15 October, to spread slurry.
Comment on this
It is not really a funny matter for those who are trying to contend with the wet weather that has made it impossible to spread slurry in an environmentally-friendly fashion. The position is that the deadline will not be extended. A decision has been made that there will be no blanket derogation sought from the European Union. At this juncture, there are farmers in parts of the country who will not make the deadline. There is an exceptional circumstances procedure, whereby if animal welfare is in question, farmers can make a case for a derogation of sorts.
Exceptional circumstances include, for example, where animals are about to be housed and a holding tank for slurry is about to overflow, with environmental consequences. In the next few days these farmers need to contact the district veterinary office in their county to make it aware of their situation and make it known that they will not be able to meet the deadline owing to weather conditions and other circumstances. It is very important that farmers move now in order that they will not be in a catch-22 in which they will have a full slurry holding tank, they cannot spread the slurry and have animals they are trying to house. Their animals will be in a desperate situation and there will potentially be other environmental consequences if slurry tanks overflow. It is a very important issue for farmers in particular parts of the country.