Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the guidelines which exist to advise farmers on additional record keeping of the purchasing, storing and usage of fertilisers on farms in relation to the nitrates action programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26607/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The keeping of fertiliser records is already part of Good Farming Practice, published in 2001 in agreement with the farming organisations. Good Farming Practice states that farmers must keep documents such as invoices and delivery dockets showing the date, type and quantity of chemical fertilisers and organic materials brought onto or leaving the farm. The records farmers will be required to keep are set out in the national action programme submitted to the European Commission by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in July.

With effect from 1 January 2006, farmers will be required to maintain records for each calendar year and to retain those records for a period of not less than five years. The type of records to be kept will include estimates of the annual fertiliser requirement for the holding, records of the quantities and formulations of chemical fertilisers used on the holding, including opening stock, records of purchase and closing stock, and records of livestock manure and other organic fertilisers moved into or off the holding including quantities, type, dates and details of the source or destination.

Regulations giving effect to the action programme are being finalised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and I expect them to be published shortly for public consultation. These regulations will specify the requirements for keeping records. My Department is preparing a guidance document designed to help farmers meet their obligations under the action programme and it will elaborate further on the record keeping aspect. As a way of providing practical help to farmers, my Department is also preparing to make available to them whatever relevant information is kept on its computer records.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will defer the introduction of a prohibition on land spreading for the months of November and December from January 2006 to December 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26608/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Code of Good Agricultural Practice to Protect Waters from Pollution by Nitrates, published jointly by my Department and the Department of the Environment in 1996 with the agreement of the farming organisations, advised that as a general practice slurry and other concentrated organic fertiliser applications to land should be avoided during the non-growing season. The non-growing season varies throughout the country but as a general guide the code advised that land spreading should be avoided between the months of October and February.

Good Farming Practice, published by my Department in 2001, set down the environmental requirements applicable to various schemes operated under EC Council Regulations 1257/99 and 1258/99. It is stated in Good Farming Practice that farmers should not spread slurry, dungstead manure or chemical nitrogen in the months of November and December. In light of the foregoing there is no justification for delaying the introduction of a prohibition on land spreading during the months of November and December in the nitrates action programme.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 399: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason under the nitrates action programme pig and poultry farmers are required to put in place 26 weeks' minimum storage by December 2006 while other livestock farmers are allowed until December 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26609/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Throughout the discussions on the action programme, the European Commission took a firm position on the minimum storage capacity required for pig producers. It also insisted that such storage facilities must be put in place at the earliest possible date. The nitrates action programme submitted to the Commission on 29 July reflects those discussions and therefore states that the storage capacity required for pigs must be in place by 31 December 2006. The action programme requires that the minimum storage capacity for all other livestock, including poultry, must be in place by 31 December 2008.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the restrictions under the nitrates action programme there are on stockpiling farmyard manure and spent mushroom compost on land during the closed period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26610/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The requirements relating to the storage of organic fertilisers are set out in the nitrates action programme submitted to the Commission on 29 July 2005. I expect the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to publish for public consultation shortly draft regulations to give effect to the provisions of the action programme.