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DEFRA has launched its long awaited Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) consultation exercise and the implications for dairy farmers in England are potentially very severe. Currently, around half of England is designated NVZ, but the consultation proposes an increase to at least 70% and Welsh farmers may also be affected, although not to the same degree. 

The maximum whole farm nitrate loading limit will reduce to 170 Kg manure N/ha for all NVZ land in England. The current grassland derogation of 250 kg N/ha will cease to apply, although the NFU is pushing hard for a new derogation.

Under the proposals, the closed period banning the spreading of slurry will be increased on all soil types to between 3.5 to 5 months and there will be a requirement for farmers to have storage facilities for slurry of a minimum of 22 weeks. The NFU believes that this would mean that a majority of dairy farmers will have to upgrade their current slurry storage capacity substantially – and the cost could be the equivalent of £15,000 per farm per year over ten years. Farmyard manure is not affected by the storage requirement.

New rules for slurry spreading banning the use of high trajectory spreaders and requiring risk assessments for steeply sloping land will also come into being and all farmers will have to complete a manure management plan.

The NFU is actively lobbying on a number of areas to mitigate the proposed new rules. Tom Hind, NFU Chief Dairy Adviser, suggests farmers need to get up to speed on the measures.

”We think that these proposals are the biggest regulatory issue English dairy farmers will face over the next two years. We would encourage all farmers to raise awareness among fellow farmers and make sure suppliers and consultants are also aware of NVZs,” he said.

Farmers wishing to highlight their concerns can write to their local MP – a template letter is available on www.nfuonline.com. The consultation period lasts until 13 December.