GrowSmart Hub

National Fertiliser Database – Your Key Resource

Around 95% of Irish farmers are now signed up to the National Fertiliser Database, which records all fertiliser purchases and sales, including lime and concentrates. This database helps farmers avoid overuse penalties and ensures compliance with farm nutrient management regulations.

Knowing your stocking rate in kg N/ha is critical. This figure reflects the intensity of your farming system and is the basis for many environmental regulations.

How Stocking Rate is Calculated

Stocking rate is the total annual nitrogen excreted by grazing livestock, averaged over the net grassland area (grazing plus silage area).

Example: A farm with 60 acres (24.3 ha) running 22 cows, 21 calves, 21 yearlings, and a stock bull for the full year would have a stocking rate of 132 kg N/ha.

Farmers can access bovine figures via Agfood, while ovine and equine excretions need to be calculated manually and added.

• Lowland ewe + lamb(s): 13 kg N/year
• Lowland hogget: 6 kg N/year
• Horse >3 years: 50 kg N/year

Soil Sampling – A Must for Compliance

From 1st January 2023, farms exceeding 130 kg N/ha must carry out soil sampling. Without soil analysis, an Index 4 for Phosphorus (P) will be assumed. Farms without soil samples cannot use P fertiliser or imported organic manures, meaning compounds like 18-6-12, 10-10-20, or 24-2.5-10 are off-limits.

The key principle is: “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Fertiliser application should be based on the nutrients available in the soil. Phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements are all determined via soil analysis. Existing soil tests are valid for four years and should cover areas no larger than 5 ha (12 acres).

Historically, some farmers applied the same fertiliser compounds year after year without checking soil levels. Today, this approach risks exceeding permitted P levels and incurring penalties.