HR M lab/ ce KG

REPRESENTATION PERMANENTE
DE L’IRLANDE
AUPRES DE
L'UNION EUROPEENNE

RUE FROISSART 88-93
1040 BRUXELLES
TEL. 230 85 80

 

FAX 230 32 03

Ms Catherine Day
Secretary-General
Secretariat-General
European Commission
Rue de ta Loi 200

B -1049 Brussels
Belgium

 

18 October, 2006
Ireland - Derogation Application under the Nitrates Directive
Dear Secretary-General

| have been asked by my authorities to refer to my letter of 12 November
2004 in the above matter. | enclosed with that correspondence, for the
consideration of the Commission, two copies of an application under Annex Ill
of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) seeking approval to allow for
landspreading of higher amounts of organic nitrogen than those specified in
Annex Ill.2 having regard to environmental and agricultural conditions in
Ireland.

This derogation application has been significantly revised to take account of
developments in the intervening period, including the finalisation of Ireland's
National Action Programme under the Nitrates Directive, the making of the
European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters)
Regulations 2006 on 18 July 2006 and discussions with Commission officials in
the matter. A revised derogation application was most recently sent to the
Commission on an informal basis on 11 September 2006. My authorities have
requested that this application should now be formally submitted and in this
connection | am enclosing two copies of the document for the consideration of
the Commission.

Yours sincerely

Deputy Permanent Representative

cc 7 Mr Mogens Peter Carl (Director General, DG Environment)
—— " "= Environment)
.. 2 Environment)

Ireland

Request to the Commission of the European
Community for a Derogation under paragraph
2(b) of Annex Ill to Directive 91/676/EEC from

the limit of 170 kilograms of Nitrogen per
hectare per year from livestock manure

11 September 2006

  

1 TE — Ma—E THE DEMATMENT Or
ee I: AGRICULTURE & FOOD
AND LOCAL COVERIMENT 5 AN ROINN TAIMRAOCHTAAGUSBIA

on

 
   
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
   

1. Introduction „uessssennssseennsssssnunmsesnsunnseesnnnssesennnnnnnnnnn

2. _ Ireland’s derogation....

3. Water quality in Ireland...

4. _ Agricultural sector in Ireland...

5. Why isa derogation needed? „nun

6. Why should Ireland be granted a derogation?.

7. Research and extension Programme...

8. Control of derogation holdings .........

1 EN a

2 _ Criteria for derogation from the general limit of 170 kilograms
from livestock manure.....uunssnssesuseninnnunnsnesnnnsunsesensenunssunnunnenunnsunsnnnnn nannte 17

3 Overview oflIrish Water Quality Based on Published Reports of the Environmental Protection

 

ABODCY senunasssnannnnunaennansensnnsiissöshsninssnnnsnnhsenneeremnennhenntbennnnnnennessens ernennen 18
3.1 Introduction...usssssssessenssnsssssssssssesssssessessenssnsununnuonsununnsnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 18
3.2 Current monitoring programmes...uunsssnsnnnnnnnnssoseseseessssnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, 18

3.2.1 FRE nennen 18
3.2.2 nee 18
3.2.3 Tidal Waters......unmsessunsssessennssseessnnunnnansennnnnensennnsnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 19
3.2.4 GRDUNdwWalet aan aa EEE EEE 19

3:25 Monitoring and the Water Framework Directive (WFD) nennen 20

3.3 Water Quality in relation to the Nitrates Directiv@..unnsssmsnnnnnmnnnnn.. 20
3.3.1 FÜVORB ...05:0ücansisignnneiiseehnnene ten nnnueessangnunneensemnerreneenanenheneT ea 20
3.32 TE anna nennen nano 25
3.3.3 NE ng 26

3.3.4 Estuarine and coastal waters .unnsnsssesessnnnnnnesnuunnsseunnnnsseennnnnennnnnnnnnnnnnnn 27

3.4 _ Comparison with other EU countries... 27

4 OVELNISW OR TIER A STIER. nennen eETEEERETETETESEUTEETEERESEEEET 28
Hl EEE ansich 28

GG RER en nee en Tg ee 28
4.3 Land use and soils......usssnssssssunnssessennnsssessssnnnnnsnennnnnsnsennnnnenennnnnnnennnnnnnnnnnnnnn 28
AM | HEEE euiiissgeänhgsenneepgeaangene nn ar 29

4.5 Systems of farming in Ireland....uuuussssssssssssssssnasssssssssseosssnsnmnnnsnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 30

4.5.1 DE NE nennen ge ge 30
4.5.2 Cattle sector ........eun2200nnnnsssrenunnsnntanennunnnnnsnnnnsssnnnnansnsannnnnnennnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 30
4.5.3 BEE CHE age ne gen parean 30
4.5.4 NN: 30
4.5.5 Poultry sector ....ussssssesesnunnsssennnnssessesssnnunnensennnnnnensunnenedennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 31

4.5.6 Horticultural sector aunnneunnsssesessnsssssssennnnnnnnnnnnnnnesnnnnnnnnennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. 31
4.5.7 Nitrogen and phosphorus loading from livestock manure in Ireland «al
4.5.8 Trends in chemical fertiliser use in Ireland... 33
4.5.9 Phosphorus use in Ireland... 34

7. ı, 0) > 36
Sl: SUMMARY neereiseehessenenseennsrenwenenreenen 30

5.2 Irish agriculture post decoupling ....uunananenennnn.. 36

5.3 Economic implications of the Nitrates Directiv@..nnensnnnnnnnnnn. 31

5.3.1 Influence of Nitrates Directive on current dairy farmers..neanensn 37
5.3.2 _ Cost ofcompliance with the 170 kilograms nitrogen per hectare limit

from livestock manure in a static scenario

6 Scientific Justification «uensesessesmannsnmneennensssnnesesnssennnnnnnannnnnnnsnennnnunnnnnnnnnnnnnn

7
8

6.1
6.2
6.3 .
6.3.1 Rainfall and evapotranspiration..........
6.3.2 Atmospheric nitrogen deposition
6.3.3 a
6.3.4 Irish solls.
6.3.5 Soils in Ireland in comparison to other European countries
6.4 Grassland in Ireland .essessssuuneeeenmnnne..
6.4.1 Length of growing season............
6.4.2 Productivity of Irish grassland..eenesssssennnnnmmmmmmnnnnn. 52
6.4.3 Nitrate-nitrogen leaching from soils under grassland in Ireland ......... 54
6.4.4 Denitrification in soils under grassland in Ireland

     
 
  

6.4.5 Products of denitrification 97
6.4.6 Soil depth and denitrification ssß
6.47 Summary of denitrification in soils under Irish grassland ...................59
6.5  Fertiliser nitrogen use for grassland..unesssnssnennmmnnnngg 59

6.5.1 Efficiency of utilisation of nitrogen contained in livestock manures ..60

6.5.2 Productivity of grassland and justification for higher total nitrogen

(organic fertiliser + chemical fertiliser) loads on grassland in Ireland scannnnncnn... 61

6.5.3 Nitrogen on derogation Koldings nen; 61
6.6 Impact of Proposed Total and Chemical Fertiliser Nitrogen Inputs Under
TOROEREOHL. nennen ea ng,

6.6.1 Ruminant livestock producers.unnsnnseeneesseesensenennenennnnnnnnnnn.

6.6.2 Import of livestock manure from intensive enterprises
6.6.3 Overall impact in the context of land use in Ireland.uecsnsnsssssunnnnnnn..
6.7 Other Important Considerations....ussssssssnmmennnnnsennnnnnnnnnn 64

6.7.1 Import of phosphorus onto farms in concentrate feedstwÄlß srusssssnnn.. 65
6.7.2 Ammonia and greenhouse gases
National Research and Extension Programme
Control and Monitoring .....unnmesnnneeeesensssesnsnmnnnnnnnnnnsnnnnsnnnnnnnnnnn
8.1 Summary of National Action Programme and Regulations
8.1.1
82 Control
8.2.1  Controlofthe Action Programme
8.2.2 Control of derogation holdings ......... -
BE RE ae sign
8.3.1
8.3.2

List of Figures
Figure 3.1 Trends in the quality conditions in 13,250 km of river channel,
Percentage of channel length in four Biological Quality Classes: A Unpolluted, B
Slightly Polluted, C Moderately Polluted and D Seriously Polluted.................. 21
Figure 3.2 Trends in the quality conditions of 2,900 km of river channel first
surveyed in 1971. Percentage of channel length in four Biological Quality
Classes: - A Unpolluted, B Slightly Polluted, C Moderately Polluted and D
Seriously Polluted. union 21
Figure 3.3 Oxidised nitrogen concentrations (mg/l N) in the larger Western and
South-Eastern River Basin District rivers compared. Data are the means and
maximum values recorded by EPA in the period 2001-2003. (Toner et al 2005)... 23
Figure 34 Three year rolling averages of the annual median and maximum
concentrations of oxidised nitrogen in the main rivers in the southeast in the
period 1979 to 2003 in relation to the EU maximum (11.3 mg/l nitrogen) and
guideline (5.65 mg/l nitrogen) limits for nitrate-nitrogen. Data are for the
sampling stations showing the highest values for these annual statistics in each

Case. (Toner et al 2005) uersesssesesnonsssnennsennnenunnennannsnnnnnnnensnenennanannnssenurnanssnsnonnnnnanuenenn 25
Figure3.5 _Numbers of groundwater sampling stations with mean nitrate-nitrogen
concentrations in the ranges indicated (Toner et al 2005) annunsnasennenneuneeneneennn 26
Figure 4.1 Chemical fertiliser phosphorus and nitrogen use in Ireland between
October 1993 and September 2005 ............. IaaIeshdksnnns hans nanennahaheahen Tan En FANELLTEEREEG 34
Figure 4.2 Trends in compound fertiliser use in Ireland from 1980 to 2002. ....... 34
Figure 5.1 Direct payments as a percentage of family farm income on Irish farms .
AüsdennnsnenpäBcnanenaAken Pan Finnen Saunen TE EEE HERE EERNG 36
Figure5.2 Effects of limiting nitrogen from livestock manure on Family Farm
Income in dairy farms in a static scenario ....uzunnsusrsnnsennonnnunnunnnnnannnnnennnnnnnnneennnene 39
Figure 6.1 Thirty year mean annual rainfall (mm) in Ireland 1961 - Wannen. 43
Figure 6.2 Soil moisture deficits (mm) between May and August (seven year
AVETAGE) Sinnen TEEN ee eieeeneonennennsnnennerserarennaenaasenenene 45

Figure 6.3 Atmospheric N deposition in Europe in 1993 (Brentrup et al., 2000)
and levels of deposition of (a) NO; -N and (b) NH4'-N in Ireland (Jordan, 1997).

Figure 6.4 Comparison of soil texture in different European countries (soil Map
1985) zerennmernereernnun san ET TEE 49

Figure 6.5 Length ofthe growing season (days) in Western Europe(Brereton,
Danielov and Scott, 1996) Inset: Average length of the grass-growing season in
Ireland (Brerei0n, 1995) u.a GE 51

Figure 6.6 Grassland yield (t dry matter /ha/year) in Western Europe (Brereton,
Danielov and Scott, 1996) Inset: Grassland.........usnananaennennennennnaneennnnnnn 53

List of Tables

Table3.1 _Trophic status ofthe 492 lakes examined in the period 2001-2003
(Percentage of Totals in Parentheses) zung anne 26

Table 3.2 Summary results of Trophie status assessments for tidal water bodies.
Numbers and proportions of tidal water bodies falling into each trophic
assessnent class in the five-year periods 1999-2003 and 1995-1999 (Toner et al
2005) 27

Table4.1 Chemical fertiliser nitrogen and Pphosphorus on arable and grassland by

farm types..unn.nnnnnnennessesssnnsessnnnnnnnnsenennsesnnsneenunsennnnnennnnnnnnnnnnstn nannten 29
Table 4.2 Livestock numbers and estimated N and P production per livestock type and
on average, on grassland and tillage, nationally ..sanasnnmnenn. 32
Table 4.3 Number of farms currently prodüucing more than 170 kilograms of
Ditrogen per ha from livestock manure ...nuussssssssmmesnsenannnnannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. 33
Table5.1 Projections of animal numbers (million of'head) post decoupling.......... 37
Table 5.2 Number and percentage of different categories of farms according to
their production of nitrogen per ha .......nusnsnennssnnssmnennmneensnnnnnnnunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. 38
Table 6.1 _Monthly rainfall at sites around Ireland (Thirty year monthly and annual
mean rainfall (mm) 1961 - 90)......nnnnnesssseressesneunneensannnesnsamnannnennnnnnnnnnnnn, 43
Table 6.2 Potential evapotranspiration in different counties of Ireland (mm) (Per
Anon, 1967) ......2.000.:00nnGGiräi. nen. en nn enaennnnseeezgeanan nn 44

Table 6.3 Thirty year mean monthly air temperatures (°C ) in Ireland (1961 - 90) 47

Table 6.4  Thirty year mean monthly soil temperatures (°C) at 100mm depthin
Ireland 47

Table 6.5 Soil textural classification of Irish agricultural soils (Gardiner and
Radford, 1980). (Soil Survey Manual, U.S.D.A. Handbook No. 18, Washington,
D.C, 1951)...ünssnnsnnn200n2022000000020200002002RR RR nnnnnnnnnnenREnnRrReSSnrnnsenssrrsnesennernrnnnnnnnn 48

Table 6.6 Annual production of maize and cultivated ryegrasses in crop production
evaluations at five stations distributed around Ireland (average of four years;
grass harvested on six occasions per year) (DAF, 2004; DAF 2005)... 52

Table 6.7 _ The productivity of permanent grassland under simulated grazing around
Ireland (Teagasc (Agriculture and Food Development Authority): Various
BRBONROR DL BEIEEER) nun age EEE EEE EEE ZSLÜGE GE 52

Table 6.8 The combined effects of nitrogen load from livestock manure and
chemical fertiliser nitrogen inputs, soil type and surplus rainfall on nitrate-
nitrogen concentrations in drainage water as measured in Irish Studies... 54

Table 6.9 Farm Gate Nitrogen Balance .unnunsssssssnnesseeseemnnnnn 56

Table 6.10 Denitrification rate and organic carbon levels in soil layers (Ryan et al,
1998) 58

Table 6.11 Total organic carbon (percent) at 50 cm deep or greater for 35 Irish

soil associations (Gardiner & Radford, 1980) ...unenesseenssenssenseunesnseensnnnnneennnn 59
Table 6.12 The diet ofthe ‘average’ Irish Dairy Cow.nannensnennsennseusnnnnnnsnnneennennnnnnn 60
Table 6.13 Maximum total available nitrogen at a grassland stocking rate of

250kg/ha/year.nnsnmsssssssssssssssssssssssnnssnsnsunnnnnsssnsennsnsnnnanssenssnnnnnnannnannannannnnnnnnn, 62

Table 6.14 The number of agricultural holdings in different land use categories in’
Ireland and inputs (kg/ha) of livestock manure N, chemical fertiliser nitrogen and
total nitrogen to agricultural land (2005) nunsssssesesssssssssssssuinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnannnnnnnnnn. 64

Glossary of Abbrevlations and Symbols

BOD
CAP
cSso
c
CV
am
°C
DAF
DIN
DM
DO
EEA
EPA
EU
FAPRI
FADN
GW
FFI
h

ha
kg
km

l

LU
MAC
mg
mm
MRP
N

N
Organic N
NO

NO;
NO;
NH;
NO
NH«-N
NITRATE-N
NFS
NMP
NUTS
NVZ
OSPAR

0,

P

REPS
Teagasc
SOM
USDA
WFD

"SuM EE HEHE U HU UNE HU EEE

blochemical oxygen demand

common agricultural pollcy

Central Statistics Office

carbon

oefficlent of varlation

centimetra

degrees centigrade

Department of Agriculture and Food
diesolved Inorganic nitrogen

dry matter

diesolved oxygen

European Environment Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
European Union

Food and Agriculture Policy Ressarch Institute
Farm Accountancy Data Network of Europe
ground water

famliy farm Income

hour

hectare

kllogrammea

kilometre

Iitre

livestock unit

maximum admissible concentration
miliigramme

millimetre

molybdate-reactiva phosphorus
nitrogen

di-nitrogen

organic niltrogen

nitric oxlde

nitrite

nitrate

ammonla

nitrous oxlda

ammonlum nitrogen

nitrate-nitrogen

National Farm Survey

nutrient management plan
Nomenclature of Terrltorlal Units

Nitrate Vuulnerable Zones

Oslo and Parla Convention for Protection of ihe Marine Environment in the
North East Atlantic

oxygen

phosphorusPO, = phosphate

Rural Environment Protection Scherme
Agriculture And Food Decelopment Authority
soll organic matter

United States Department of Agriculture
Water Framework Directive

euro