Farm Smart: Cork dairy farmer tracks nitrates in derogation
Cork dairy farmer Nicole Keohane uses the Herdwatch Nitrates Calculator to track nitrogen levels, stay in derogation compliance, and manage her dairy herd records — all from her phone.
Nicole Keohane is a dairy farmer from Cork who farms alongside her grandmother Anne. Together, they have introduced technology into their farming practices — using Herdwatch to manage breeding records, stay compliant with farm regulations, and track nitrate levels across the farm.
For Nicole, the Herdwatch Nitrates Calculator has become an essential tool. It allows her to stay on top of derogation compliance throughout the year — proactively, rather than reactively.
Understanding nitrates in agriculture
Nitrates are essential for plant growth — they provide the nitrogen that crops need to thrive. However, in farming, excessive nitrate use from fertilisers and manure can cause serious environmental problems, including water pollution and biodiversity loss.
Under Ireland’s Nitrates Directive, the amount of organic nitrogen produced per hectare of farmland is limited to 170 kg per year. Farmers must maintain detailed records of nitrogen use — covering livestock numbers, fertiliser application, slurry management, and crop requirements. Compliance is essential both for environmental protection and to avoid penalties.
Nicole’s approach to nitrate management on the dairy farm
Nicole understands how important effective nitrate management is on a dairy farm. Instead of waiting until the end of the year to assess her position, she uses the Herdwatch Nitrates Calculator throughout the year to stay ahead.
The calculator allows her to adjust cattle numbers and manage slurry import and export proactively — keeping the farm within legal limits and giving her a clear picture of where things stand at any point in the year.
How to use the Herdwatch Nitrates Calculator
The Nitrates Calculator is built directly into the Herdwatch app and takes just a few steps to use. Here is how Nicole accesses it from her phone:
- Open the app and navigate to the home screen.
- Select ‘Management’ to access the farm management tools.
- Choose ‘Nitrates Calculator’ from the menu.
- Input your farm data — select the options that apply and click Next.
- View your results — the calculator provides an instant estimate of your current nitrate position.
Results can be saved as a PDF directly from the app, making record-keeping straightforward and inspection-ready at all times.
The benefits Nicole sees on farm
For Nicole, the Nitrates Calculator delivers four key benefits in her day-to-day farm management:
- Proactive management — adjust cattle numbers and plan slurry import/export before problems arise, rather than after.
- Streamlined record-keeping — save results as a PDF for easy tracking and audit-ready documentation.
- Tailored insights — receive customised calculations based on her specific farm setup, whether on mobile or desktop.
- Enhanced compliance — regular use reduces the risk of exceeding nitrate limits and supports sustainable farming practices.
In addition to the Nitrates Calculator, Nicole uses Herdwatch to track breeding information across her dairy herd and stay on top of all farm compliance records — keeping everything in one place, accessible from anywhere.
You can read more real farmer stories on our farm case studies page.
Stay on top of nitrates — all year round
The Herdwatch Nitrates Calculator gives dairy farmers like Nicole a clear, real-time picture of their nitrogen position — so there are no surprises at inspection time and no risk of breaching derogation limits.
“Using the Herdwatch app, she can easily track and manage nitrate usage throughout the year, ensuring her operations remain compliant and sustainable.”
Join Nicole and over 22,000 farmers using Herdwatch to manage compliance, simplify record-keeping, and farm with confidence.