Listen: AgriFocus – making slurry work best on your farm

In this episode of the AgriFocus podcast, Francess McDonnell chats to David Whelehan, agricultural technical consultant with Vogelsang Ireland and part-time beef farmer in Co. Westmeath, about the “huge value” in organic fertilisers and how farmers can make the best use of slurry on their farms.

Under the Nitrates Action Programme, Ireland is divided into three zones (A, B and C) based on soil type, rainfall and length of growing season. 

Farmers in zones A and B have been able to spread organic manures from January 13 and January 16 but farmers in Zone C – which includes Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan – can start spreading organic manures from February 1.

However according to Whelehan, regardless of the specific dates farmers are now more inclined to wait until ground conditions are right – soil temperatures are correct and grass is growing – before they spread because they do not want slurry to leach into waterway courses or to waste the resource.

The fortnightly AgriFocus podcast series takes a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.