Will Longford farmers be under pressure for Slurry Storage this winter?

Winter has firmly arrived, cattle are housed, fields are saturated and darkness falls by 5pm. After one of the driest summers in years, rainwater is finally flowing through gutters again — making this an ideal moment to check that clean roof and surface water is kept out of your slurry tanks.

Doing so saves storage space, makes slurry easier to manage, and reduces the risk of pollution and potential fines.

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Know the difference

Soiled water: Rain that falls on scraped yards or clean collecting yards. This must go to appropriate soiled-water storage.

Clean water: Roof water that never touches animals or dirty yard surfaces. This should be kept separate and piped directly to a field, soakaway, or clean water drain.

Slurry: Any water that meets dung, including during washing.

Practical yard preparation
Divert roof water correctly. Inspect gutters, downpipes and drains. Repair leaks and ensure clean roof water is directed away from tanks and yards. It should never enter slurry or soiled-water storage.

Maintain yard drains. Clear blockages and fix damage. Ensure surfaces are graded so runoff flows away from stores. Mixing clean and dirty water increases storage pressure and environmental risk.

Check tank capacity and freeboard. Confirm you have adequate storage for slurry and soiled water throughout the closed spreading period. A minimum of 18 weeks’ slurry storage is required.

Use temporary protections during heavy rain. Bunds, sandbags, or temporary channels can help keep excess rainwater away from tanks until permanent repairs are complete.

Prioritise safety. Never work around tanks alone. Ensure good lighting, secure access, and fall-prevention measures, especially when contractors are onsite.

Slurry spreading and closed periods
The statutory closed period for slurry spreading runs from 1 October to 16 January (16 weeks), but farms must still provide at least 18 weeks’ storage to allow for unsuitable conditions in early spring. Proper preparation now will ensure compliance and reduce pressure once the spreading season reopens.

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Act now to avoid slurry coming through you slats this Christmas.

Teagasc provides a Local Advisory and Education service to farmers. They have offices based in Roscommon Town (Tel: 090 6626166), Castlerea (Tel: 094 9620160) and Longford Town (Tel: 043 3341021), You can find us on Facebook @Teagasc roscommonlongford and twitter @teagascRNLD. Email; Roscommon LongfordAdvisory@teagasc.ie