Daera unveils plan to slash farm emissions
© Tim Scrivener Policymakers in Northern Ireland have announced plans to reduce ammonia outputs by 30% through practical farm measures, backed by financial support.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said it was concerned by rising ammonia levels in NI.
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Between 2009 and 2019 there was a 19% increase in ammonia emissions, and levels of 31kt/year equal the record highs of the late 1990s, Daera said.
Agriculture contributes 97% of ammonia emissions and swift action is needed to hit 30% reduction targets by 2030, it added.
The department has set out a raft of measures in a draft ammonia strategy and consultation document, which include:
- Low-emission livestock housing
- Use emerging technologies
- Low-emission slurry spreading equipment
- Longer grazing seasons
- Move to stabilised urea fertiliser
- Reduce crude protein in livestock diets
- Improve feed efficiency through genetic improvement
- Establish tree plantations around livestock housing
- Cover above ground slurry stores.
The consultation explained that moves towards low-emission livestock housing would include the installation of scrapers in underslat pits, frequent removal and cooling of slurry, pit flushing and acidification systems.
Other advances put forward are retrofitted air scrubbers for enclosed pig and poultry units.
In addition, the strategy contained plans to introduce legislation to reduce ammonia emissions from fertilisers, including a potential prohibition on the use of unprotected urea fertiliser.
It recognised that many of the initiatives would incur costs and pledged financial support for necessary investments.
Rigorous action
Daera environment policy director Dave Foster said the draft strategy recognised that rigorous action on ammonia was needed.
“Finding the right pathway to improvement will be crucial and we are keen to have as many views as possible from a wide cross-section of the population on the measures proposed in the strategy.
“We would therefore encourage all interested parties to submit their views on the consultation before the deadline of 23:59 on Friday 3 March 2023.”
Ulster Farmers’ Union president David Brown said farmers understood the importance of reducing ammonia and wanted to do their bit.
Mr Brown pointed to the significant uptake of low-emission slurry spreaders as evidence of farmers’ willingness to tackle the issue.
But he voiced deep concerns about some of the proposed measures within the strategy.
“This includes the practical and financial effects on NI farms. We will now be taking the time to thoroughly scrutinise this strategy within our committee structures, and once we have done so, we’ll be able to comment further on the draft.”
Further information
Read the draft strategy on Daera’s website (PDF).