Kilkenny farmers reminded of new rules on storage and stacking of silage bales

As the main silage making season begins, the Department of Agriculture are reminding all farmers of the requirement, that as of this year, silage bales, including high dry matter silage or haylage, can only be stored a maximum of two bales high, in the absence of adequate facilities for the collection and storage of any effluent that may arise.  

Silage bales must also continue to be stored at least 20m from surface water or a drinking water abstraction point, as required under the previous regulations. These requirements also apply to the storage of haylage. 

'A generation of people (in Kilkenny) will be dead and gone before their lanes are tarred'

Farmers with low dry matter silage bales should consider themselves whether it is appropriate to stack their bales up to two high in the absence of appropriate effluent collection facilities. 

The new regulations are designed to ensure the protection of waters, including drinking water sources, against pollution caused by nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural sources.

The set of measures also provide some safeguards against possible harmful impacts to water quality arising from agricultural activity, including the storage of silage bales.