Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will furnish a copy of the out-wintering regulations, which are relevant in the context of good agricultural and environmental condition criteria in relation to inspections carried out by his officials under the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14732/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Out wintering of cattle is governed by Cross Compliance (Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC)

Under SMR4 (Nitrates) farmers who are stocked at less than 140kg of Nitrates per hectare (equivalent to 1.65 livestock units per hectare) can avail of the option to out winter some animals and thereby reduce the volume of storage required for animal manure provided that the out wintered animals are stocked at less than 1 livestock unit per hectare. The total land area required to meet this requirement must be available to the animals at all times.

The protection of soil structure and permanent pasture from damage by animals at any time of the year is a requirement under GAEC. Therefore, animals out wintered in line with the Nitrates Regulation must not cause poaching or soil erosion. Where conditions do not allow for out wintering through poaching or machinery use then farmers must have sufficient manure storage for the winter period.