Proposed pollution control rules set out for NI farmers
© Tim Scrivener Revised pollution control measures – including phased changes to fertiliser, slurry and nutrient management from 2027 – have been set out in a new consultation from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) in Northern Ireland.
The 10-week consultation on the proposed Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2027-30 follows a major overhaul of previous draft proposals published last year, which attracted much farmer criticism.
See also: TB and environmental regulations put pressure on NI farmers
The revised package, developed by an independent Stakeholder Task and Finish Group, retains the aim of improving water quality but places greater emphasis on phased implementation, advisory support and nutrient efficiency rather than blanket regulation.
Key changes
The consultation proposes several significant changes affecting livestock and arable farms, including:
- Replacing the nitrates derogation with a new two-tier Nutrient Stewardship Programme, reducing the minimum grassland requirement from 80% to 70%, introducing annual nutrient accounts and moving to risk-based inspections.
- Reduced volume of slurry which can be applied during the month of February and between 30 September to 15 October from the current limit of 30cu m/ha per single application to 25cu m/ha per single application.
- Cutting Northern Ireland’s agricultural phosphorus surplus by 30% over four years through improved feed efficiency, slurry processing, nutrient exports and tighter nutrient management.
- Keeping phosphorus fertiliser linked to soil testing, while introducing point-of-sale checks requiring farmers to have nutrient management plans before purchasing certain fertilisers.
- Changing dairy nutrient calculations, with nitrogen and phosphorus excretion based on seven milk-yield bands instead of a single standard value.
- Linking nitrogen fertiliser limits to grass production, giving higher-performing farms greater flexibility where justified.
- Restricting unprotected granular urea to applications between 1 February and 31 March, with protected urea required from 1 April to 15 September.
- Phasing in Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment, starting with farms over 100 livestock units in 2028, those over 75 livestock units in 2029 and farms over 50 livestock units in 2030.
- Introducing voluntary catchment support in high-risk areas through advisory visits, training, peer-learning groups and funding for measures such as buffer strips, hedge planting and yard improvements.
Efficiency focus
A Nutrient Efficiency Roadmap, which would run alongside the next NAP rather than introducing additional regulation, is also being proposed.
Designed jointly by government, farmers, processors and environmental organisations, the plan aims to improve food security, farm profitability and environmental outcomes by helping farms make better use of nitrogen and phosphorus through practical advice, research, knowledge exchange and new technology.
Revised approach
Launching the consultation, agriculture minister Andrew Muir said: “The revised NAP is critical to securing our shared vision for a thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable future for our agricultural sector.”
Ulster Farmers Union president John McLenaghan described the package now out for consultation as “a significant improvement on last year’s”.
“The most damaging proposals have been removed or rewritten, and the focus is now on workable, targeted and phased measures that keep farmers farming while delivering environmental improvements,” he said.
The consultation closes on 7 September, after which the minister intends to seek executive approval for the final regulations.
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