Irish Dairy Farms Face Increased Slurry Storage Demands Amid Water Quality Push

Rising Slurry Storage Needs

Current regulations mandate 0.33m³ of slurry storage per cow per week, a figure derived from older dairy farming benchmarks. However, data from 100 monitored dairy farms indicate that this should increase to 0.41m³ per cow per week, reflecting higher milk production per cow and greater slurry output.

Teagasc Director of Research Dr. Pat Dillon commented on the findings: “The 0.33m³ is an old figure. It was when our milk production per cow was much lower. It’s a no-brainer that it has gone up. We expected this, but it’s really important that we get it sorted. I think it will tie into the sixth Nitrates Action Programme.”

Economic Implications for Farmers

For farmers, the increased storage requirements translate into substantial costs. For example:

• Cork: A 100-cow herd requiring 16 weeks of slurry storage will need to add capacity for 112,000 liters, costing approximately €35,291 based on TAMS costings for pre-cast concrete tanks.
• Monaghan: With a 22-week storage requirement, the same herd would need 154,000 liters, with costs rising to €46,673.

These financial demands highlight the need for robust support mechanisms to ensure compliance without undue strain on farmers.

Policy and Funding Support

Ireland’s current Nitrates Derogation, which allows higher stocking rates above the standard 170kg nitrogen/ha, is under scrutiny due to water quality concerns. Dr. Dillon emphasized the importance of securing European Commission approval for a 60% grant on slurry storage facilities to aid farmers in meeting these stricter standards.

Environmental Context

Agriculture is a significant pressure in 1,023 of Ireland's 1,649 at-risk water bodies. Improvements in water quality are expected with enhanced slurry management, but balancing these demands with farmers' economic realities remains critical.