The Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has approved the extension of the period for spreading lime until 31st March 2024.
However, farmers need to be aware that the deadline for submitting invoices, marked as being paid, to the Department of Agriculture remains the 31st October 2023.
The flexibility on the spreading deadline will be most welcome, as the recent weather conditions have meant that farmers have had fewer opportunities to spread lime.
The National Liming Programme was been launched by the Government to help farmers offset part of the expense of using lime.
Lime is an important component of achieving balanced soil health, improving nutrient use efficiency and thereby reducing the requirements of chemical fertilisers and contributing to both climate and water targets. By having a balanced soil pH, we will reduce the need for artificial fertilisers which is good for the environment and good for the farmer’s pocket.
See the link below for more information:
https://www.farmersjournal.ie/spreading-deadline-extended-to-march-for-liming-scheme-787090#
