Hazzard calls for slurry deadline extension

Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard is calling on Environment Minister Alex Attwood to extend the deadline for spreading slurry.

Speaking to Newry Times, Hazzard said,

“This has been one of the wettest years on record with the result farmers have been unable to spread slurry over the fields. It has been so wet that much of the slurry has washed away within days resulting in the need to spread the fields again.”

“With the deadline of the 15th and with ground being so wet farmers are been forced to put huge amounts of slurry out with could result in major environmental implications.”

He added, “Although there has been a slight improvement in weather conditions the overall forecast is for more wet weather putting the farmers under severe pressure of having to have slurry finished.

“Already other jurisdictions including the South of Ireland have extended the deadline so I hope the Minister sees the benefit of this action. I will be asking the Minister to extend the deadline to at least the end of October to give the farmers a chance of getting the slurry down.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=23032

Posted by Newry Times News on Sep 28 2012. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry