Wexford IFA Environment Committee Chairman, Francis Fanning, has urged farmers to exercise extreme vigilance during this year’s silage season to prevent any silage effluent contamination of our inland waterways system. He said farmers should make preparations now to contain and carefully manage silage effluent during the forage harvesting.

He said : “Silage effluent is one of the most highly contaminating substances farmers have to deal with as a part of modern farming techniques. Farmers must remain constantly vigilant during the upcoming silage season to ensure no contamination of streams, rivers or lakes occurs as a result of mishandling silage effluent on their farms.”

IFA has developed a 10-Point Code on Silage Effluent Control, which has been produced in consultation with Teagasc and the Central Fisheries Board and with the support of AIB Bank. The Code details the correct management of silage effluent.

Mr. Fanning said: “The most practical disposal option is to spread effluent onto the land from which the silage has been harvested since this will recycle some of the nutrients removed by the silage crop. This operation should be start as soon as possible after the effluent starts flowing from the silage pit. “

“The Code also includes emergency action steps farmers are recommended to follow in the event of an accidental breach in effluent management controls,” he added.

Mr. Fanning urged farmers to regularly inspect drains and watercourses downstream of the farmyard once silage making begins so that immediate action can be taken if contamination is suspected.

The IFA Silage Control Code is available to through all IFA Regional offices, AIB Bank branches and fisheries board offices throughout the country.