Wet weather causing slurry store concern
Heavy rain has filled slurry stores, leaving producers fearing they face the choice between breaking spreading rules or risking overflows and pollution charges.
In Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, farmers are not allowed to spread slurry on grassland between 15 October and 15 January, and DEFRA has ruled out any easing of the restrictions. “We asked the Environment Agency to take into account the unusually heavy rainfall when taking decisions about enforcement during the first four weeks of the NVZ closed period,” said a DEFRA spokesman.
“Our overall objective remains to reduce water pollution caused by slurry, which is why we are not able to extend that period. The saturated land means that closed period or not, spreading would be inadvisable given the threat of pollution. The Environment Agency has pulled together a range of advice on slurry storage and management, which will be available on its website shortly.”
DEFRA’s position means many face either allowing stores to overflow, or having to spread during the closed period – both of which could result in prosecution. Other alternatives include transporting slurry to another farm or creating temporary storage – which will require local authority approval.
Where farmers cannot avoid spreading during the closed period, they should draw up a contingency manure management plan and take steps to minimise pollution. The Environment Agency has said it is sympathetic to those who act responsibly and says it can offer advice to farmers in difficult circumstances.
The NFU has urged farmers to write to their MP and called for DEFRA to adopt a more realistic approach. Andrew Butler, acting regional director in the South West, said: “We believe DEFRA should provide reassurance that farmers will not face penalties for making common-sense decisions on their farms that minimise environmental risks.”
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