30 March 2023
The government consultation on reducing ammonia emissions from solid urea fertilisers closed in January 2021. In March 2023 Farming Minister Mark Spencer warned that, should the industry fail to introduce a scheme to reduce ammonia emissions from urea this year, Defra plan to impose regulations.
30 March 2023
In October 2022, the consortium formally requested a further delay to the launch of Option 4 for one year or until the fertiliser market returned to a more normalised state.
The NFU maintain that the decision to request a delay in the launch of Option 4 in the autumn last year was right and the most rational decision to make at the time. Six months on, the current market situation and future outlook are different, and no one member of the Industry Consortium or government could have predicted the greatly improved circumstances we now find ourselves in.
That being the case, and following careful consideration and discussions between consortium members, we are more confident that the introduction of Option 4 has been deferred long enough to avoid a significant market impact.
We recognise that farming has a key role to play in reducing ammonia emissions, but if that is at the expense of competitiveness and offshoring production, it is not acceptable.
Enforcement under the Red Tractor Standard will take place on 1 April 2024. From this date, the use of inhibited urea-based fertiliser will be required outside of the open window for uninhibited product from 15 January – 31 March.
NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: “We have informed Defra that the industry self-regulation approach to the use of uninhibited urea fertiliser under a new Red Tractor standard be enforced from 1 April 2024.
“The NFU and industry partners fought hard for nearly two years to achieve a robust and pragmatic industry-led approach, without this, the clear proposal from DEFRA was an outright ban on the use of uninhibited urea fertilisers.
“Using uninhibited urea saves farmers £13.8 million annually. And its value stretches further when you consider its role in keeping the UK market competitive and minimising nutrient leaching risks associated with early season use of ammonium nitrate.”
The consortium comprise, NFU, AIC | The Agricultural Industries Confederation, AICC | Association of Independent Crop Consultants, BASIS, CLA | Country Land and Business Association, NIAB and Red Tractor.
Businesses found not to be complying with Option 4 by Red Tractor will be required to undertake the BASIS module: Reducing Ammonia Emissions.
The module, which has been funded and developed in collaboration with AIC, AICC, CLA, NIAB, Red Tractor and the NFU, is designed to give farmers the knowledge and tools to reduce ammonia emissions from both manufactured fertilisers and organic materials in livestock housing, storage and when applied to land.
Before the introduction of Option 4 the NFU urges all members to take part in the BASIS module: How to Reduce Ammonia Emissions from Farming which has been developed with the industry. (Note to Editor: BASIS members can complete this as part of their membership, for non-members there are 500 additional free places).
Any industry approach needs to be auditable. This is where Red Tractor were asked to support the industry and deliver value for scheme members by helping demonstrate responsible use of untreated urea fertiliser.
Maintaining access to urea is critical for a competitive fertiliser market and productive, profitable growing systems.
It has been made clear by a Ministerial letter received on 21 March 2023, that the default approach from government was for an outright ban on untreated urea fertiliser. Access to urea fertiliser is crucial, and if the last 18 months have shown anything, it’s that we need diversity in our fertiliser supply.
Tom Bradshaw went on to explain: “With the Government’s Clean Air strategy targeting, among other things, reduction in ammonia emissions, farming must demonstrate we can play our part in reducing emissions while maintaining competitiveness. Demonstrating responsible use of urea fertiliser will show government that we can act responsibly and hopefully open the door to other industry-led solutions.”
28 March 2023
From the 1 April 2024 fertiliser containing urea must only be applied where the following requirements are met:
The BASIS Ammonia Module will be available on the BASIS | Classroom (basis-reg.co.uk) website from 27 March 2023.
The module includes a mixture of videos, audio and interactive learning and will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
30 March 2022
The government’s consultation on reducing ammonia emissions from solid urea fertilisers closed in January 2021. It has now published its response agreeing, for now, with the NFU and other industry partners that a farming industry self-regulation approach will work best for the environment and food production.
The response will include its support for a new Red Tractor standard to reduce ammonia emissions from urea fertilisers. The new standard will require scheme members to restrict use of untreated urea from 15 January to the end of March each year and require treated/protected urea fertilisers throughout the rest of the year.
The standard will be published in April 2023 though Red Tractor will not begin to assess whether the new rules are being complied with until October 2023. Defra will review these dates in autumn 2022 after looking at how the fertiliser market is doing.
This is effectively a postponement of one year which allows time to be able to respond to the growing gas and fertilisers supply impacts we’re currently experiencing.
Defra hopes that this will achieve around 11 kilotons of ammonia emissions reductions by 2024/25.
The effectiveness of the scheme will be monitored and regulation will be introduced if the scheme does not achieve the ammonia reductions needed.
The decision on whether new legislation will be needed will likely be made in 2025/26.
The NFU submitted its response to the government consultation and set out the importance of solid urea when it is used alongside other products such as ammonium nitrate.
We also detailed why it is used by farmers as part of a balanced and integrated nutrient management plan.
The NFU believes an industry-regulated approach to the use of solid urea fertiliser will allow farmers in England to keep using this vital product to help grow the nation’s food, while cutting ammonia emissions significantly at the same time.
Read NFU Crops chair Matt Culley on the future of urea fertiliser in England (31 March 2022)
NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: “Working alongside other farming organisations, such as AIC, we put forward a strong case to Defra for a robust and pragmatic industry-led approach, without which would have meant a ban on the use of solid urea fertilisers.”
He went on to say: “Spiralling input costs are impacting on all farmers and growers with nitrogen fertiliser now costing almost five times as much as it did this time last year and so we are pleased that Defra has agreed to our calls for a delay to the roll-out by a year until 2023 due to current market conditions.
“Through the involvement of Red Tractor, the industry has avoided the proposed outright ban on urea fertiliser which means that farmers and growers will continue to have the flexibility to use the right product at the right time.”
The announcement means farmers and growers can keep using a vital product, to help grow sustainable climate-friendly food. At the same time they will be significantly cutting ammonia emissions in line with government and industry ambitions.
3 November 2020
The consultation presented proposals implementing the first of several regulatory measures, outlined in the Clean Air Strategy, to be applied to the agriculture sector.
The consultation opened on 3 November 2020 and closed on 26 January 2021.
Visit GOV.UK for full detail of the consultation: reducing ammonia emissions from urea fertilisers
The NFU has submitted its response to the government consultation, setting out the importance of solid urea when used alongside other products such as ammonium nitrate. The response also details why it is used by farmers as part of a balanced and integrated nutrient management plan.
The NFU believes an industry-regulated approach to the use of solid urea fertiliser will allow farmers in England to keep using this vital product to help grow the nation’s food, while cutting ammonia emissions significantly at the same time.
NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: “Solid urea is a vital tool used by farmers to produce the food we eat. It offers farmers the flexibility to use the right product at the right time to minimise environmental impact, while also helping maintain a competitive fertiliser market. Banning solid urea would also discriminate against farmers in England, who would face increased competition from imports from countries around the world where farmers continue to have full access to the product.
“No-one disputes that farming has a part to play in reducing emissions and farmers are already working hard towards this goal by using low emission spreading equipment, for example, improving livestock diets and covering slurry stores. Alongside this we’ve seen increases in nitrogen use efficiency since the mid 1990s.
“This is why the NFU is urging Defra to look at the bigger picture as part of this consultation instead of taking decisions in isolation, given the huge impact it will have on British farming.
“We firmly believe that farmers in England need continued access to untreated solid urea. So, working with our members and alongside other industry stakeholders and independent scientists, the NFU is proposing a viable alternative to the options put forward by Defra.
“We are calling for an industry-regulated approach that ensures a high uptake and allows farmers to continue enjoying the benefits of untreated urea. Farmers would be encouraged to use solid urea between 15 January and 31 March which would be measurable through a recommendation in Red Tractor standards or a FACTS qualification. We believe this option will also minimise costs to farmers while ensuring an acceptable emissions reduction is achieved for Defra, in a way that also allows farming to achieve other important ambitions around productivity and reaching net zero by 2040.”
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