Written answers
Thursday, 5 October 2023
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Forestry Sector
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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303. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is permitted to spread rock phosphate fertiliser in forestry all year around; if it is confined to certain periods of the year; if he will outline those periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43263/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has issued guidance on the application of rock phosphate on afforestation sites within the Fertiliser sections in the Forestry Standards Manual (August 2023) and the Environmental Requirements for Afforestation (August 2023).
Within the Forestry Standards Manual it is stated that; ‘Fertiliser is best applied in early summer and not outside the period April to August’.
Furthermore, both the Forest Standards Manual and Environmental Requirements for Afforestation cover best practice in relation to fertiliser application in unfavourable weather.
Both documents state that, Fertiliser should not be applied during periods of heavy rainfall and/ or high winds, or following heavy rainfall until the site has dried out sufficiently.
Details of proposed fertiliser applications must be submitted for assessment as part of the afforestation licence application.
Information relating to fertiliser application on reforestation sites can be found in Section 13 of my Departments publication ‘Standards for Felling and Reforestation (2019)’.
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