The shift from summer to autumn brings a hard stop to slurry and fertiliser spreading for Irish farmers. Miss the window and you’re in breach of Nitrates Action Programme rules — with real consequences for water quality and your compliance record.

4 related posts

Slurry closing date (other than FYM): 1 October ·
Chemical fertiliser closed period starts: 15 September ·
FYM prohibited from: 1 November ·
Slurry reopening Zone A: 13 September 2025 ·
Chemical N reopening: 30 January 2026

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact county-by-zone mapping not confirmed in all sources
  • Specific scientific criteria for October 15 extension remain vague
  • Whether 2026 brings any regulatory updates post-May
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
Key closing dates for slurry and fertiliser spreading in Ireland 2025–2026
Fertiliser type Closing date Notes
Chemical fertiliser (N and P) 15 October 2025 Uniform across all zones
Unprotected urea (solid form) 14 October 2025 Must be applied as liquid after this date
Slurry (organic, excl. FYM) 1 December 2025 Last day to spread is 30 September
Farmyard manure (FYM) 1 October 2025 Across all zones
Soiled water 1 October 2025 Closed until 31 December; exceptions for winter milk suppliers
Fertiliser closing stocks declaration 15 October 2025 Due to Department of Agriculture; nil returns required if no stock

What is the last date for spreading slurry?

The formal closing date for slurry spreading is 1 October 2025, meaning the last practical day to apply slurry is 30 September. This deadline applies uniformly across all Nitrates Zones A, B, and C in Ireland, according to Teagasc guidance and agricultural advisories.

Autumn closing dates

As autumn arrives, Irish farmers face a cascading series of spreading bans under the Nitrates Action Programme. Chemical fertilisers close first — nitrogen and phosphorus products are prohibited from 15 September 2025, with unrestricted urea in solid form banned even earlier, from 14 September.

The catch

Farmers spreading slurry up to the 1 October deadline must also respect the 50m³/ha application limit and should have a current nutrient management plan with slurry test results for NPK content.

Zone-specific reopenings

When the closed period ends, different zones see different reopening dates. Zone A — covering intensive counties like Cork and Tipperary with 16-week storage requirements — reopens for slurry on 13 October 2025. Zone B follows on 16 January 2026, while Zone C (with longer 20–22 week storage needs) reopens on 1 February 2026.

The implication: farmers in Zone C have nearly a month longer without slurry spreading compared to Zone A, which creates real planning implications for winter manure storage and spring field work.

Can you spread fertiliser in October?

By October, chemical fertiliser spreading is already prohibited. The closed period for nitrogen and phosphorus began on 15 September and typically runs until late January or February, depending on your zone.

Chemical fertiliser rules

Zone A chemical fertiliser reopens 27 September 2025. Zone B follows on 30 January 2026, and Zone C the latest — 15 February 2026. If you’re applying chemical N, you need to wait until your zone’s reopening date passes, not just until the new year.

Why this matters

The uniform 15 September closure means no zone gets a longer chemical fertiliser window in autumn — but the staggered reopening gives Zone C farmers significantly less time in the growing season to apply chemical nutrients.

Organic vs chemical

One key distinction: lime and potash (K) can be spread year-round with no closed period. For organic fertilisers, slurry closes 1 October while farmyard manure stays open until 1 November. This creates a narrow window where FYM can be applied but slurry cannot — something to factor into autumn spreading plans.

What months can you not spread slurry?

Slurry spreading is prohibited from 1 October through the end of December across all zones, with reopenings staggered into January and October 2025. This means at minimum, farmers face a 100+ day closed period.

Closed periods by zone

The exact duration varies by zone based on storage capacity requirements. Zone A’s slurry ban runs roughly 104 days (1 October to 12 January). Zone B extends to about 107 days, and Zone C stretches to 123 days, ending 31 January.

Bottom line: Zone C farmers need roughly three weeks more storage capacity than Zone A farmers because slurry cannot be spread from 1 October until 1 February.

Winter ban details

December is a complete no-spreading month for slurry across all zones. Soiled water also enters its closed period on 1 December, running through the month — though winter milk suppliers have limited exceptions. There is no extension or derogation available for standard dairy and drystock farms during December.

When can you spread fertiliser after slurry?

The question of spreading order matters when both organic and chemical nutrients are needed. Teagasc guidance and farming advisories provide clear direction: lime and potash go first (year-round), followed by slurry or FYM, with chemical fertiliser last if required.

Spreading order table

Four categories of nutrients, one logical order for application.

Recommended spreading order for Irish farmland
Order Fertiliser type Timing
1 Lime / Potash (K) Any time of year
2 Slurry or FYM Before 1 Oct (FYM until 1 Nov)
3 Chemical N / P After zone reopening (Jan–Feb 2026)

Applying nutrients in this sequence maximises availability — lime corrects pH first so subsequent nutrients aren’t locked out, organic matter builds soil structure, and chemical fertiliser tops up N and P once soils are ready to receive them.

Best practices

After spreading slurry, wait periods before grazing vary — the 4-day slurry rule commencing January 2025 sets new standards for application intervals. Always maintain buffer distances from watercourses and follow your approved Nitrates Action Programme nutrient management plan.

The implication: mixing organic and chemical applications in the wrong order can waste nutrients. Apply lime first to correct soil pH, then organic matter to build soil structure, then chemical fertiliser to top up N and P levels once soils are ready to receive them.

Slurry Spreading Rules in Ireland – What You Need to Know

Beyond the basic closing dates, several specific rules govern slurry spreading compliance in Ireland. Farmyard manure, soiled water, urea products, and declaration requirements each have their own deadlines.

Farmyard manure dates

FYM has a later closing date than slurry — 1 November — but also a later zone-specific reopening. Zone A FYM reopens 13 October 2025, matching slurry’s return. This gives farmers roughly a month longer to spread solid manure compared to liquid slurry applications.

The trade-off

FYM’s later closing date (1 November vs 1 October for slurry) means farmers who prioritised slurry application in September can focus on FYM in October — but this requires having FYM available and suitable storage for slurry during the longer closed period.

Soiled water closing

Soiled water — defined as water contaminated with livestock or silage effluent — enters its closed period on 1 December and remains prohibited through 31 December. Winter milk suppliers may apply under specific conditions, but standard farms must hold soiled water in storage throughout December.

Reporting violations

Farmers who witness illegal slurry spreading can report violations to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). Evidence should include dates, locations, and photographic or video documentation where possible. Penalties for non-compliance can include cross-compliance reductions on Direct Payments and potential prosecution for serious or repeated offences.

Confirmed facts vs rumours

Confirmed facts

  • Slurry closes 1 October per Teagasc and Agriland advisories
  • Chemical N closed from 15 September to 30 January (Zone A: 27 October 2025)
  • FYM prohibited from 1 November
  • Soiled water closed 1–31 December
  • Fertiliser closing stocks declaration due 15 October 2025
  • Lime and potash spread year-round

Unclear / unconfirmed

  • Exact county-to-zone mapping not detailed in all sources
  • Specific scientific criteria for October 15 slurry extension remain vague
  • Whether 2026 brings regulatory updates post-May
  • Full penalty schedule for violations

What authorities say

The final date for submission of closing stock of fertiliser on farms and premises is Wednesday, 15 October 2025.

— Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Teagasc official announcement)

November 1 marks another key date in the farming calendar, as the closed period for the spreading of farmyard manure comes into play.

— Teagasc agricultural authority (Teagasc official guidance on FYM closed period)

Farmers and contractors are reminded that the final day to apply slurry is today, September 30th.

— Teagasc agricultural authority (Teagasc slurry spreading deadline notice)

Key dates timeline

Unprotected urea (solid form) prohibited
Chemical fertiliser (N and P) closed period begins
Last practical day to spread slurry
Slurry (organic) formal closing date
Fertiliser closing stocks declaration deadline
Farmyard manure (FYM) prohibited
Soiled water closed period begins
Soiled water closed period ends
Zone A slurry and FYM reopening
Chemical N (Zone A) reopening
Zone C slurry and FYM reopening
Zone C chemical fertiliser reopening

Zone comparison: closed periods and reopenings

Three zones, three different timelines for when spreading can resume.

Slurry and chemical fertiliser reopening dates by Nitrates Zone
Zone Storage requirement Slurry/FYM reopen Chemical N reopen Key counties
Zone A 16 weeks 13 January 2026 27 January 2026 Cork, Tipperary, Waterford
Zone B 18 weeks 16 January 2026 30 January 2026 Galway, Mayo, Roscommon
Zone C 20–22 weeks 1 February 2026 15 February 2026 Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan

Zone C farmers face nearly a month longer closed period than Zone A — meaning they need proportionally more winter storage capacity to hold slurry and soiled water through the extended ban.

What to watch

Zone C farmers need roughly three weeks more storage capacity than Zone A farmers because slurry cannot be spread from 1 October until 1 February.

Summary

The Nitrates Action Programme sets a strict seasonal framework that Irish farmers must navigate each autumn and winter. Chemical fertiliser closes on 15 September, slurry on 1 October, and farmyard manure on 1 November — with reopening dates stretched across January and October 2025 depending on your zone. The fertiliser closing stocks declaration on 15 October is a firm administrative deadline that cannot be overlooked.

For Zone A farmers, the slurry reopening on 13 October 2025 marks an early return to organic spreading, while Zone C operators wait until February for both slurry and chemical nutrients. Missing these closing dates risks compliance penalties and undermines the water quality objectives the programme was designed to protect.

Related reading: Reminder closing dates for spreading fertiliser and slurry · Closing out slurry and fertiliser use on Irish dairy farms

Additional sources

teagasc.ie, teagasc.ie, teagasc.ie

While Teagasc sets Republic of Ireland deadlines like 1 October for slurry, Northern Ireland NAP guidelines under the Nutrient Action Programme apply across the North.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the slurry spreading dates 2026?

Slurry closes on 1 October 2025 across all zones. Reopening dates are: Zone A — 13 January 2026; Zone B — 16 January 2026; Zone C — 1 February 2026.

What is the slurry ban 2026?

The slurry ban is the mandatory closed period prohibiting slurry spreading. It runs from 1 October 2025 until zone-specific reopening dates in January–February 2026.

What are the dung spreading dates?

Farmyard manure (FYM) — often called dung — is prohibited from 1 November 2025, with reopening on 13 November 2025 for Zone A, 16 January for Zone B, and 1 February for Zone C.

How to report illegal slurry spreading?

Report violations to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) with evidence including dates, locations, and photographic documentation where possible.

What are farmyard manure spreading dates?

FYM closing date is 1 November 2025. Reopening follows the same zonal pattern as slurry: Zone A on 13 October 2025, Zone B on 16 October 2025, Zone C on 1 October 2025.

When does chemical fertiliser spreading reopen?

Chemical fertiliser (N and P) reopens: Zone A — 27 September 2025; Zone B — 30 September 2025; Zone C — 15 September 2025.

What are soiled water spreading closing dates?

Soiled water is prohibited from 1 December through 31 December 2025, with exceptions for winter milk suppliers. There is no formal reopening date as it applies only to December.