Ireland Opens Application for 2026 Nitrates Derogation and Dairy Band Confirmation

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, announced that applications for the 2026 Nitrates Derogation are now open and can be submitted via www.myagfood.ie. The deadline for these applications is Friday, May 15, 2026. This derogation permits farmers to exceed the usual limit of 170kg of livestock manure nitrogen per hectare, reaching up to 220kg or 250kg per hectare, depending on compliance with stricter regulations.

Additionally, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) website is available for dairy farmers to confirm their Dairy Band for 2026. Farmers must confirm their herd's dairy cow band and, if they wish, opt-in for recognition of managing crude protein in concentrates fed to cows in the previous year. This confirmation must be completed by May 15, 2026, to avoid defaulting to the highest excretion rate band of 106kg N per dairy cow.

The banding of dairy cow excretion rates, introduced in 2023, is based on scientific research indicating that higher milk yields result in higher nutrient excretion rates. Farmers who do not consent to data sharing with ICBF must complete manual forms supported by milk purchaser statements.

After May 15, late submissions for dairy band confirmation and amendments will be accepted until December 31, 2026. The option to declare reduced crude protein levels in 2025 is available and can lower the excretion rate applied to a herd.

Key information on the 2026 Nitrates Derogation, including Terms and Conditions, is accessible on the Department's website, while detailed Nitrogen and Phosphorus statements for 2025 are available through the Department's online system.