Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine reminded farmers at the National Ploughing Championships that the window for declaring fertiliser closing stocks for 2026 is open, and put staff on its stand (Block 3, Row 7, Stand 135) to help herd owners file on the spot.

It is a legal requirement that all professional fertiliser users, farmers included, submit an annual closing stock declaration to the National Fertiliser Database (NFD) — including a 'nil' declaration where no fertiliser is held. Closing stock is whatever fertiliser was on hand at midnight on September 14. The facility opened on September 15 and declarations must be made by October 15.

Declarations can be made by farmers or their agents by logging on to MyAgFood, and a step-by-step guide is on the department's NFD webpage. Where fertiliser remains, the declaration should state the type and quantity of each product held.

The department also urged farmers to check their fertiliser transaction records on MyAgFood. Sales are recorded on the database by fertiliser merchants, who are responsible for the accuracy of the data on their customers; a farmer with a query about a purchase should raise it with the merchant first.

Accurate closing stocks matter because the database now underpins each farm's fertiliser allowance and the nitrates limits it must stay within. Charles O'Donnell reported the reminder for Agriland from the Ploughing at Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Source: Agriland