The new provisions, that come into force today (Friday May 17), revise NVZ boundaries and mean around 6,700 fewer farms will be affected by the rules. They also introduce welcome changes such as allowing spreading of manure to within six metres of watercourses, if using precision spreading equipment and the removal of the need to keep certain records, if applying nitrate in a low intensity situation.
However, the rules will also extend the closed period on medium or heavy land for a further two weeks – until the end of January. The NFU is also disappointed with new requirements not subject to the original consultation that will be placed on temporary manure field heaps to be as ‘reasonably compact as possible’.
Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: “After several months of uncertainty and appeals, the new rules provide some clarity to those in areas under designation and a slight reduction in area designated in England reflects the declining nitrate trends in some areas.
“In addition, we are pleased that Defra has listened and backed down on proposals to introduce retrospective application of standards to older, 20-year-plus silage, slurry and agricultural fuel oil stores, and recognised the need to review the evidence on the condition of these stores.
“However, we strongly opposed the government’s original proposals to extend the closed periods as Defra’s own evidence recognised that this just swapped nitrate in water for the same amount of ammonia released to the atmosphere.
“Further, the introduction of new rules for manure heaps appears to us to be completely unnecessary and not evidence based. We are working with Defra and the Rural Payments Agency to ensure that this new requirement will be fairly and practically interpreted by inspectors, with minimal impact on farmers.”