Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Minister about the plans he hopefully has to extend the slurry season. As he will be aware, we have had a difficult and wet summer. The harvest was late and farmers in many parts of the country have had difficulty getting fodder saved, particularly in areas where there are wetter, heavier soils. As a result, many farmers are letting their cattle graze later in order to try and save their fodder. Now they are in a situation where they need to spread slurry out. It is has been difficult to do that up until now. The past two weeks of good weather have helped. Farmers have certainly not been able to spread slurry in many places. It would be appropriate, therefore, that, as happened last year, there be a short extension to the slurry-spreading season to ensure this can happen.

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