October 31 is the last day to spread farmyard manure in Ireland

Farmers have until October 31 to spread farmyard manure (FYM), after which a countrywide closed period kicks in on November 1 and runs until January or February, depending on the nitrates zone.

Róisín McManus, an advisor with the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) in Tipperary, is reminding farmers that the deadline only holds where weather and ground conditions allow. "From November 1, spreading FYM will be prohibited until the relevant reopening date in January or February, depending on the county," McManus said.

The reopening dates split by zone: Zone A returns first.

• Zone A: spreading can recommence January 13
• Zone B: January 16
• Zone C: February 1

What's a tonne actually worth?

McManus puts a hard number on the case for spreading well rather than spreading fast. A tonne of FYM carries approximately three units of nitrogen, two units of phosphorus and 12 units of potassium, plus organic matter.

"Based on fertiliser prices in July 2026, this gives FYM an estimated nutrient value of €13 per tonne," she said. That's not pocket change on a farm with hundreds of tonnes to move. Applied correctly, she noted, FYM improves soil fertility, maintains soil structure and cuts the requirement for purchased chemical fertiliser. Applied badly, the nutrients head for the nearest watercourse instead.

Which fields should get it?

Soil sample results and the nutrient management plan should drive the decision, not the calendar. Fields with low phosphorus and potassium fertility are the priority, provided applications stay within crop requirements and nutrient limits.

"Spreading FYM simply to empty a slab or remove a heap in the field before the closed period should be avoided," McManus said. Target fields where the nutrients will actually be used.

Ground conditions and the buffer rule change

The legal deadline doesn't override agronomy. Wetter weather and falling soil temperatures raise the risk of nutrient losses as autumn deepens. McManus advised against spreading on waterlogged, flooded or frozen ground, or where heavy rain is forecast, with particular care on sloping fields and land beside watercourses.

One detail worth flagging: in the final two weeks of the spreading season, the standard 5m buffer zone beside surface waters doubles to 10m. Larger buffers may apply on steep ground near water. Protecting water quality, she said, must stay the priority.

No field storage over winter

Here's the clause that catches people out. FYM cannot sit in fields during the closed period, and anything currently stored there must be removed before November 1. Not spread. Removed.

Manure held in the farmyard over winter should sit on a sound concrete base, not gravel or hardcore, with the storage area free from cracks and channels collecting effluent into a dedicated tank or slurry tank. Diverting clean rainwater away from storage where possible reduces the effluent volume needing storage.

What should farmers do now?

Assess the tonnage on the farm, decide what can go out safely before October 31, and confirm storage capacity for the rest. If a contractor is doing the spreading, book them early — the good ones fill up fast in late October.

McManus was firm on one point: don't let the deadline force a bad job. "Farmers should not feel under pressure to spread FYM in unsuitable conditions simply because the deadline is approaching," she said. Her summary: use FYM well when conditions allow, secure adequate winter storage, and remember that both spreading and field storage are prohibited once the closed period begins. Farmers unsure of their zone's reopening date should check their county designation now and plan manure strategy around it.