Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to make changes to calendar farming in view of the fact that unpredictable weather patterns over the past few years have had an adverse affect on farming methods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45190/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Nitrates Directive requires Ireland to define periods when the land application of fertiliser is prohibited. This issue was raised in submissions received during the public consultation process that formed part of the review of the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations, commonly known as the 'Nitrates Regulations'. An Expert Advisory Group was established to consider the submissions. In the light of the Expert Review Group Report and subsequent discussions with the European Commission, the current regime of closed periods for land-spreading is not being changed. The Nitrates Regulations are scheduled for review again in 2013.