merrion street

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are now notifying farmers in respect of their Nitrogen and Phosphorus (N&P) limits. This is being done by text message.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus statements for the period 1 January to 31 July 2012 are now available for all farmers online by registering on www.agfood.ie. These N&P statements are a valuable tool, especially for the more intensive farmers, and should assist them in deciding whether or not they need to change their farming practices before the end of the year to stay within the limits set down in the Nitrates Regulations.

Farmers not already registered can do for agfood.ie can do so by logging onto www.agfood.ie and clicking the ‘Register’ button. To register a mobile phone number for future SMS text alerts log on to https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/mobileupdates/ to access the sign-on form, or alternatively contact the regional office. If a herdowner does not have access to online or SMS text alert notification services, the interim N&P statements can be obtained from the regional office or from the Department’s Nitrates Section, Johnstown Castle, Wexford.

Note for Editor

· Approximately 98,000 DAFM customers have supplied their mobile numbers which can be used for communication of important message by TEXT/SMS. A selection of these will relate to a particular scheme or incident at any given time (e.g. SPS, Nitrates, Pig farming etc...)

· There are approximately 136,000 active Farmers

· 96,000+ have online services access. (48,218 as individuals and 74,333 through Agents) (approximately 26,000 have both)