Teagasc outlines position on Soiled Water Negotiations

At its December meeting, the Teagasc Authority had sought an urgent meeting with senior Department of Agriculture officials to outline Teagasc's concerns about the Department's interpretation of the Nitrates Directive in relation to soiled water.

Lengthy negotiations have now taken place between senior management in Teagasc and Department of Agriculture officials on their interpretation of soiled water. At those meetings Teagasc clearly stated its definition of soiled water. A full report from the meetings between Teagasc management and the Department of Agriculture will be presented at the normal monthly meeting of the Authority on 10 January 2007, where the outcome will be clarified for members.

Not withstanding the different views in relation to the definition of soiled water, technical discussions were very productive. Senior management and the chairman Dr Tom O Dwyer are satisfied that the essential problem in relation to soiled water/slurry storage has now been addressed.

The Department of Agriculture's confirmation that no additional slurry storage capacity is required when a dairy farmer transfers soiled water/slurry from a tank in a livestock collecting yard to the main slurry storage facility on the farm, has been welcomed.