The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affair's
online system for submitting applications for a Nutrient Action
Programme (NAP) derogation in 2025 and the submission of 2024
fertilisation accounts for derogated farms, will remain open to
receive applications and submissions until 10 April 2025.
The NAP Derogation is available to a small number of Northern
Ireland cattle farms with higher stocking rates. Subject to
meeting specific additional nutrient management and environmental
criteria, it enables farmers to better utilise the nutrients
within grazing livestock manures and requires them to demonstrate
more efficient nutrient use at higher stocking rates.
Having an approved derogation enables farmers to operate up to a
manure Nitrogen Loading limit of 250 kg N/ha/year, compared to
the general limit of 170 kg N/ha/year in the Nutrients Action
Programme. This means they can maximise the use of manure
nutrients on their farm and reduce the use of additional chemical
fertilisers.
Farmers are encouraged to check their farm nitrogen loading
figures via the Department's Online Services and ensure
they comply with the NAP Regulations. Farmers who intend to apply
for a derogation, must prepare a fertilisation plan for their
holding by 01 March 2025 and keep it updated during the year.
Farmers can submit their derogation applications for 2025 and
records for 2024 via DAERA Online Services. Applications and
records must be submitted in full by 10 April 2025. No additional
information will be accepted after the closing date.
The Departments online services is located at https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/daera-online-services
Please note that this extension to the closing dates applies to
2025 only.
Failure to submit Derogation records on time could result in a
penalty being applied to the Basic Payment.
Notes to Editors:
- The submission deadline date for applications for 2025 NAP
Derogations and the submission of 2024 records (derogation
fertilisation accounts) is 23.59 on 10 April 2025. Applicants are
reminded that fertilisation plans for 2025 must be prepared by 01
March and be available on farm from this date.
- Farms operating under the NAP derogation must adopt specific
nutrient management measures, land spreading restrictions and
record-keeping requirements, in addition to complying with all
other NAP measures.
- Derogation requirements include preparation of annual
fertilisation plans and accounts, regular soil analysis, a farm
phosphorus balance limit and conditions on the timing of slurry
application and use of Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment
(LESSE). The purpose of these additional measures is to ensure
that operating at the higher livestock manure limit of the
derogation does not adversely impact on water quality. The full
Terms and Conditions for derogation can be found within the
following link https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/nutrient-action-programme-nap-derogation-terms-and-conditions
- The NAP Derogation Guidance 2019-2022, NAP Derogation
Fertilisation Plan 2019-2022 and NAP Derogation Fertilisation
Account 2019-2022 booklets are available at: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/nutrientsactionprogramme2019-2022.
