THE DEROGATION under the EU nitrates directive, which allows more intensive farmers here to operate at higher stocking rates, will be renewed, according to Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith.
He was announcing details of an agreement reached with the EU Commission that shows some changes to the operation of the directive under Ireland’s second National Action Plan programme, which will run to the end of 2013.
The agreement does, however, specify new stricter rules to protect water quality.
These include a prohibition on the application of chemical fertiliser within two metres of a watercourse.
