Slurry closed period starts October 8 — two days left to spread

Ireland's autumn slurry closed period now starts October 8, 2026, pushed back seven days from the standard October 1 cut-off. Farmers have today and tomorrow (October 6 and 7) to clear remaining tank capacity before the winter prohibition begins.

Ahead lies a 16-22-week storage window depending on zone. Zone A farmers cannot spread again until January 13, 2027. Zone B operators wait until January 16, and Zone C farmers in Donegal and Leitrim hold until February 1.

Why was the deadline extended?

The standard October 1 cut-off was pushed back one week. Last spring delivered a cautionary tale: the spreading window opened but swards were too wet to travel, squeezing already-tight slurry storage on many farms. Emptying tanks now adds a buffer against that repeat.

Soil temperatures are still sitting at 13-15°C, per Met Éireann readings, meaning a useful nitrogen response is possible from the last gallons — provided ground conditions allow. Ground conditions vary widely after heavy rainfall in late September, leaving many paddocks waterlogged.

How much can still go on?

Application rates must match crop growth at roughly 1,500-2,000 gal/ac on drier paddocks. The same rate applies to dairy washings behind cows until conditions force a stop.

The soiled-water closed period begins for all suppliers on December 1, keeping tankers busy into late autumn on parlour washings. Farmyard manure remains spreadable until November 1, giving scope to clear sheds on recently cut silage ground that took advantage of the fine spell in late September.

Where does the risk sit?

Spreading on waterlogged paddocks, or within 48 hours of forecast heavy rain, drives nitrogen and phosphorus straight into drains. Buffer zones near watercourses still apply on dry land, and waterlogged fields waste nutrients that leach rather than feed the sward.

Autumn remains a workable window for lime and straight K products, both of which can be applied all year. Building indices now lifts the response from the first spring slurry applications in 2027.

What must be recorded?

Slurry movements must be declared before December 31. The records back up compliance checks and feed into the year-end fertiliser declaration, which applies even to farms with no livestock.

Zone-by-zone storage and closed-period rules

• Zone A: 16-week storage; chemical N and P closed September 15 - January 26; slurry closed October 1 - January 12; FYM closed November 1 - January 12
• Zone B: 18-week storage; chemical N and P closed September 15 - January 29; slurry closed October 1 - January 15; FYM closed November 1 - January 15
• Zone C (Donegal, Leitrim): 20-week storage; chemical N and P closed September 15 - February 14; slurry closed October 1 - January 31; FYM closed November 1 - January 31
• Zone C (Cavan, Monaghan): 22-week storage; chemical N and P closed September 15 - February 14; slurry closed October 1 - January 31; FYM closed November 1 - January 31

With the last application window closing on October 8, the next regulatory milestone lands on January 13, 2027, when Zone A reopens. Farmers weighing late tank emptying should track Met Éireann rainfall forecasts daily and have the December 31 movement declaration ready before the year closes.