Tipperary farmers say 'unworkable' new slurry rule will put farm lives at risk

“Enough people are hurt on farms without making more” says Upperchurch farmer Joe O’Dwyer who was one of over 400 farmers in Upperchurch that signed a petition calling on government politicians to defer and review the splash plate ban due to become law on January 1 2025, for farms stocked between 100 and 130 kilos of organic nitrogen per hectacre.

The new regulations set to become law under Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) are causing serious stress and concern amongst Tipperary hill farmers as the equipment is not suitable to use safely on many farms as the traction or hold from the tyres will not be reliable enough. 

Tractors will have to be of higher horse power and driven faster to ensure slurry is pumped into the ground, but this means the possibility of tractors turning over is much higher and lives are put at risk.  

The current law is due to change on the first day of 2025, meaning that the current method of spreading slurry using splash plates will be outlawed and the new “unworkable” way will put farmers working on hillsides at major risk of injury or death when it is introduced. 

At the jam-packed meeting in Upperchurch last Tuesday many highly experienced farmers spoke of how tractors have fully turned over because of using the new method that the government wants to bring into law. 

Alan Ryan from Templederry said that he had a “near miss” in February of 2023 when the tractor he was driving went off balance in a split second whilst using the method that will become part of the new slurry spreading rules.

“The tractor did a full 360 degrees, rolled onto the cab and back onto its wheels,” he said, adding that he “managed to walk away” and was happy that he wasn’t just another farm fatality statistic. 

He explained that the weight in the tank meant that the tank leaned over first then quickly the tractor followed it with him inside the cab holding on to the steering wheel for dear life. 

He said that it was “pure luck” that he lived to tell what happened and he said this new law makes no sense in upland areas where farmers are working on hills. 

The hall in Upperchurch was packed to capacity, with many people outside as well, and all were there to offer support to the locals who organised the meeting to see what they could do to get the new rule changed before it becomes law on January 1st. 

“People want action now,” local farmer PJ Ryan said, adding that “if Joe (O’Dwyer) and JP (Ryan) hadn’t organised this meeting what would have happened?

“The minimum is that we can postpone the introduction of the new rule from January 1st,  it just can’t be brushed aside,” he said, stressing the importance of politicians and the IFA working together to ensure a positive solution can be found.

Those present signed a petition asking that a safe and workable alternative can be found in order to ensure they can continue to spread slurry on their farms under the European Union law known as Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations.

Many farmers at the meeting were incredibly stressed at the possibility of working under such dangerous conditions from January 1st.  

The new heavier ‘LESS’ (Low Emission Slurry Spreading) equipment poses a major health and safety risk when spreading slurry on hilly areas as the odds of equipment and operator toppling over is very high.

The risk of accident, injury or death amongst operators is highly increased with the proposed methods. Steep climbs or a soft patch on the land could mean the tractor and load will turn.

“The difficulty is in having extra weight behind you (when spreading), it affects the balance of your tractor so we are saying to the IFA and saying to the politicians and other farmers to come with us on this one,” a farmer who travelled from The Nire Valley said on the night to huge applause.

Farmers from across Tipperary, Clare and Galway spoke on the night and all stressed the importance of feeling safe at work. 

The IFA were represented in Upperchurch by the President Francie Gorman and the Munster Chair of the IFA. County Chairman Baden Powell was there too. All said they would work for a solution.

Michael Lowry TD was at the meeting and he said that he fully understood where the farmers were coming from and that the matter is of the “utmost importance” to him.

Deputy Lowry said he had spoken to government ministers that day in Dublin in relation to the matter, stressing the need “for flexibility” on this matter. 

County Councillor Ryan O’Meara, Jackie Cahill’s parliamentary assistant, said that Jackie Cahill TD sent his apologies and that he would love to have been there but couldn’t for health reasons. 

He said that Jackie was farming just down the road, knows all about the issue and supports the farmers’ cause. 

Newport native Councillor Fiona Bonfield was there representing Alan Kelly TD and said “I think the biggest issue here is the health and safety,” adding that the Labour Party would support those present on the matter.

Councillor Phil Bugler thanked local IFA official JP Ryan (National Sheep Vice chairman) for the information provided and said there are three main issues: “the economic issues, the environmental issues and health and safety issues.” She said it was time to find alternative solutions.

Councillor Dan Harty of Sinn Fein spoke at the meeting and said this slurry spreading dilemma is a major election issue. 
The Holycross native said that “with such a turnout tonight for such a specific issue it shows that it is a problem that needs to be solved.”

He said that he was looking to “protect the family farm and peoples livelihoods,” as he offered every support. 

Local Councillor Peggy Ryan spoke on the night saying that “I think the important thing will be the strength of your submission to take onboard everything you have said tonight about health and safety. This is your farm and these are your lives.

“If you are going to change the minds of those in the Department it will be based on the science so we have to find that net ground of explaining your position clearly, pushing it really hard and making sure the science stacks up,” the Upperchurch-Drombane native said, pointing out that “there is a viable solution there”.

Councillor Pamela Quirke O’Meara was also at the meeting and offered her support to finding a solution also.

Farmers JP Ryan and Joe O’Dwyer of the local IFA Branch have experience of the issues, and both spoke very well on the night with Joe pointing out that a solution must be found immediately: ”Science is going to take time, they can’t kill us or hurt us on the hills while we are waiting for that to come through, they have to come up with a solution for us.”

Time is of the essence here, the campaign to postpone and change the controversial slurry spreading methods is underway. It must succeed, livelihoods and lives depend upon it.