An environmental and economic assessment on the impact of possible reductions in the maximum chemical nitrogen allowances for all grassland stocking rates
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine requested Teagasc to conduct ‘An environmental and economic assessment on the impact of possible reductions in the maximum chemical nitrogen (N) allowances for all grassland stocking rates as well as the main arable crops’. This report looks at the impact on all grassland stocking rates.
By Teagasc
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The purpose of this request was to inform policy and to support the Nitrates Action Programme. The Base Scenario used was the annual maximum fertilisation rates of N on
grassland as outlined by Statutory Instrument No. 605 of 2017. This was compared to:
- Statutory Instrument No. 113 of 2022 annual maximum fertilistion rates of N on grassland
- Statutory Instrument No. 42 of 2025 annual maximum fertilisation rates of N on grasslan
- A further 5% reduction in the annual maximum fertilisation rates of N on grassland relative to the maximum chemical N application allowances in Statutory Instrument No. 42 of 2025
- A further 10% reduction in the annual maximum fertilisation rates of N on grassland relative to the maximum chemical N application allowances in Statutory Instrument No. 42 of 2025
Additionally, the impact of annual maximum fertilisation rates of N on grassland for stocking rates of less than 85 kg of organic N/ha was investigated.