nitrates inspection

B25

We are scheduled to have a nitrates inspection this week. I know what they are going to check outside on the farm but I was wondering what paperwork will they look for? I want to make certain sure I have anything they might ask for ready.

blue5000

Think it's last years fertiliser dockets and the prev yrs meal dockets for starters, had one earlier this yr, but now that it's a bit later in the year it could be both from 2013. Good luck with it, try find out what triggered the inspection. They'll also mesure slurry tanks to see if you've adequate storage, effluent contained etc. Also have any knackery dockets handy.

B25

Tks for that. I have all the fertilizer and feed records. Also, the knackery dockets. I'm a bit concerned about adequate slurry storage but, hopefully, I should be ok there too. Anyway, just have to clean up all round and hope for the best!

A cow called Daisy

B25 wrote: »

We are scheduled to have a nitrates inspection this week. I know what they are going to check outside on the farm but I was wondering what paperwork will they look for? I want to make certain sure I have anything they might ask for ready.

Best of luck with it. I dread anything like that. Did you get much notice beforehand

B25

About 4 days notice.

A cow called Daisy

B25 wrote: »

We are scheduled to have a nitrates inspection this week. I know what they are going to check outside on the farm but I was wondering what paperwork will they look for? I want to make certain sure I have anything they might ask for ready.

How did inspection go?

B25

The inspection went fine. He stayed for just over an hour. Inspected run off from the silage was going into a tank. Checked and measured the slurry storage. Went out into the field to look at the manure heap which we had just moved out there for spreading. We had to out-winter some cattle this year and that was what triggered the inspection. We now have to send feed/fertilizer reports back to the department to make sure we have sufficient slurry storage. So fingers crossed that will go ok.

td5man

B25 wrote: »

The inspection went fine. He stayed for just over an hour. Inspected run off from the silage was going into a tank. Checked and measured the slurry storage. Went out into the field to look at the manure heap which we had just moved out there for spreading. We had to out-winter some cattle this year and that was what triggered the inspection. We now have to send feed/fertilizer reports back to the department to make sure we have sufficient slurry storage. So fingers crossed that will go ok.

how did they know you outwintered cattle?

Sheep breeder

Didn't think they were given 4 days notice, only suppose to be 48 hours max,
The inspection wasn't because cattle were out wintered unless it was a derogation case and you declared you were out wintering, they usually walk all parcels and measure all storage capacity and give you a nitrates return forms to fill in and return to work out if you broke the 170 limit.

B25

They know I out-wintered because they can see everything on satellite.

td5man

B25 wrote: »

They know I out-wintered because they can see everything on satellite.

was wondering if that was the answer :-(

whelan2

B25 wrote: »

They know I out-wintered because they can see everything on satellite.

often wondered if the helicopters flying low around yard are checking out things too, i always wave anyway

td5man

whelan2 wrote: »

often wondered if the helicopters flying low around yard are checking out things too, i always wave anyway

esb line inspection or in your case gas line inspection.

whelan2

td5man wrote: »

esb line inspection or in your case gas line inspection.

there was one a few weeks ago where they circled the yard a few times seemed to be following me bring the cows in. The bg lads wher around a good bit last summer checking on drainage work

td5man

whelan2 wrote: »

there was one a few weeks ago where they circled the yard a few times seemed to be following me bring the cows in. The bg lads wher around a good bit last summer checking on drainage work

they fly the gas line here at least once a month.

whelan2

td5man wrote: »

they fly the gas line here at least once a month.

gas line doesnt go near yard here

Sheep breeder

The department do not know you out winter by satellite as it would cost crazy money to do it, and to thing so is stupid.the inspector asks the question about the type and numbers and the parcels used to out winter and records them and this is added in to the total nitrates figure produced.

whelan2

lad i knw had an inspection as he hadnt his land back in green cover in a specific time after spraying it with round up , how did they know this?

Sheep breeder

He wouldn't have being inspected for this on it's own, unless some one had reported him for not having green cover generated, it's amazing how farmers will ring up about his neighbour and what he is doing and not doing,

A cow called Daisy

whelan2 wrote: »

often wondered if the helicopters flying low around yard are checking out things too, i always wave anyway

That's yon lad that works in Aldi trying to impress you:D

rancher

Sheep breeder wrote: »

He wouldn't have being inspected for this on it's own, unless some one had reported him for not having green cover generated, it's amazing how farmers will ring up about his neighbour and what he is doing and not doing,

Even not buying enough replacement tags triggers an inspection, not having enough deaths, ignoring queries after a herd test or not rectifying them.
Our flock here is scrapie monitored, it used to be a requirement for exporting rams and we just continued it, We have a DVO inspection on the farm every year and I've been told even that reduces my chance of a full blown inspection. But there is also the inspection that are no reason at all

Sheep breeder

Having a scrapie inspections does mot mean you will not have a SPS inspection, scrapie is a animal health issue and not linked to single payment inspection as no money involved, this year the TB testing discrepancy is going to pull a high percent of lads for inspections if letters not replied to.

jack o shea

are you allowed have dung in a heap in field for this? at this time of year?

djmc

jack o shea wrote: »

are you allowed have dung in a heap in field for this? at this time of year?

It should be spread by 31st Oct AFAIK
Even level it with tractor or loader.

Capercaillie

djmc wrote: »

It should be spread by 31st Oct AFAIK
Even level it with tractor or loader.

I got 6 loads of dung delivered during week. I will level it to 6 inches, I assume that would be OK?

frazzledhome

jack o shea wrote: »

are you allowed have dung in a heap in field for this? at this time of year?

No Jack. Must be spread by 31 October. You can have heaped in yard if runoff is contained

td5man

Capercaillie wrote: »

I got 6 loads of dung delivered during week. I will level it to 6 inches, I assume that would be OK?

Too high and application rate.

Capercaillie

td5man wrote: »

Too high and application rate.

narrow strip 50m by 5m. Not near a drain.

td5man

Capercaillie wrote: »

narrow strip 50m by 5m. Not near a drain.

That's should have read "too high an application"

jack o shea

how fussy are these lads? would they just tell you whats wrong and give you a week or 2 to fix it?

rangler1

jack o shea wrote: »

how fussy are these lads? would they just tell you whats wrong and give you a week or 2 to fix it?

They'd give you a week to fix it all right, but you'd be penalised as well....I'd imagine a heap of dung in the field would be hefty penalty

jack o shea

dont have any heaps of dung,what else could they do you for?

jack o shea

do they stay walking around until they find something to do you for?

rangler1

jack o shea wrote: »

dont have any heaps of dung,what else could they do you for?

There's a selection of forms that the inspector has to complete, as far as I know he has to do them all
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/crosscompliance/inspectionforms/

jack o shea

what? i thought a nitrates one is only that?