No-one disputes farming has a part to play in reducing emissions. Farmers are already working towards this goal by using low emission spreading equipment, for example, improving livestock diets, and covering slurry stores, as well as significant reductions in nitrogen fertiliser use since the mid 1990’s.

This is why the NFU will be urging Defra to look at the bigger picture as part of this consultation instead of making these decisions in isolation, given the huge impact it will have on British farming.

Urea is a vital tool in helping grow the nation’s food; we need to avoid pollution substitution where we simply switch ammonia emissions to potential nitrate leaching. the flexibility urea offers enables farmers 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 face increased competition from imports from countries around the world that will continue to have full access to the product.

The NFU will be responding to this important consultation and it is critical you make your views known too. There will always be implications whenever you attempt to withdraw a product and Defra needs to be fully aware of the unintended consequences from as many farmers as possible.

Tom Bradshaw, NFU Vice President