ICSA president Sean McNamara has said the latest Teagasc research confirming no difference in ammonia emissions between dribble bars and trailing shoes underlines the urgent need to reinstate grant aid for dribble bar equipment under TAMS. “This research completely undermines the rationale for excluding dribble bars from TAMS support. It confirms what we have believed all along, that the dribble bar performs just as well as the trailing shoe when it comes to emissions. If both deliver the same environmental outcome, there is no justification for favouring one over the other in terms of financial support.”

The Teagasc study, set to be published soon, involved two years of field trials on short grass. It found no difference in ammonia emissions between slurry applied using a dribble bar and a trailing shoe. While the research did confirm a 37% reduction in emissions from LESS methods compared to the traditional splash plate, it concluded there was no additional environmental benefit to using a trailing shoe over a dribble bar.

Continuing, Mr McNamara said, “This proves that the decision to exclude dribble bars from TAMS is not based on science or emissions data. In fact, it is forcing farmers to invest in heavier, more cumbersome equipment that may not even suit their land, and for no extra environmental gain.”

Mr McNamara said ICSA is now calling on Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to urgently reverse the decision to exclude dribble bar technology from TAMS 3. “The Department’s insistence on backing only the trailing shoe completely ignores the reality on the ground. A trailing shoe is too heavy for smaller tractors, unsuitable for undulating terrain, and cannot be retrofitted to existing tankers. In contrast, the dribble bar is lighter, easier to operate, and can often be added to equipment a farmer already owns. It is the most practical and cost-effective solution for many.

If the Department is serious about supporting LESS adoption and reducing emissions, it must stop creating artificial and unjustified barriers. The impact of this policy on drystock farmers - particularly those operating on hilly or heavy ground - has been deeply unfair. However, the science is now clear: dribble bars are just as effective as trailing shoes. There is no longer any excuse to deny farmers the grant aid they need.”