Welsh farmers handed extra month to spread slurry

Welsh farmers will be given an extra month to spread slurry this autumn, alongside higher advance farm payments following this summer’s drought.

Cabinet minister for rural resilience and sustainability Llyr Gruffydd announced the measures on Wednesday 23 September in response to difficult growing conditions and wider pressures facing the sector.

See also: Welsh slurry closed periods set for overhaul

“I’ve heard directly from farmers and growers about the impacts of this summer’s drought, and the wider challenges facing the sector, and they’ve told me they need three things from their government: certainty, flexibility and support.

“I’ve listened, and we’re taking action,” Mr Gruffydd said.

Temporary spreading changes

Temporary changes to the closed spreading period are being introduced after prolonged dry weather disrupted grass growth, silage cutting and normal slurry applications.

These include:

• Legislation allowing slurry and other high readily available nitrogen (RAN) manures to be spread until 15 November 2026 on all soil types, subject to safeguards.
• The usual 15 October deadline for soils other than sandy or shallow land will be extended by four weeks.
• A temporary spreading window will run from 15 October to 15 November on sandy or shallow soils.
• The change applies only for the 2026 spreading period and excludes poultry manure and manufactured nitrogen fertiliser.
• Farmers will be limited to applying no more than 30cu m of slurry/ha at any one time, with at least three weeks between applications.

The Welsh government acknowledged drought conditions had left slurry stores fuller than normal heading into autumn.

It said allowing extra time to reduce storage levels presented a lower pollution risk than stores becoming overfull or failing during winter.

Higher advance payments

Advance payments under the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) Universal Layer and Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will also rise from 70% to 80% of estimated eligible claim values.

Payments will begin from 14 October, with balances due from 11 December following validation, eligibility checks and any required inspections.

SFS claimants must complete their Universal Dashboard and confirm completion of applicable “Universal Actions” before receiving their balance payment.

Industry response

Farming unions welcomed the short-term measures, having previously criticised a “farming by calendar” approach and called for flexibility following a year of extreme weather, disease and rising costs.

NFU Cymru president Abi Reader said: “This proactive action will help to underpin food production in Wales after one of the most challenging years in living memory.

“It also serves as another timely reminder as to why the stability payment within the universal element of the SFS and BPS plays such an important role in the nation’s food security.”

Farmers’ Union of Wales president Ian Rickman added the measures would afford farmers “valuable time to make better use of these nutrients and safely empty their stores as winter approaches”.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) also supported the extension, as it “provides additional flexibility, while helping to reduce the risk of slurry storage capacity issues later in the year”.