In the last 2 years the updated Welsh regulations have been brought more in line with the English regulations since the introduction of Wales’s ‘Whole NVZ’ ruling. There are however still some key differences to bear in mind, both practically and on the paperwork. These differences include:
- NMax limits are lower for some vegetable crops in Wales than they are in England
- The NVZ closed period for High RAN organic manures ends for grassland on most soils on 15th January in Wales but on 31st January in England
- In Wales, High RAN manure can be spread on crops listed to specified limits and conditions in the closed period, in England only manufactured fertiliser nitrogen can be spread on listed crops in the NVZ closed period
- The regulations in Wales do not refer to a derogation to the farm livestock manure N limit
- In England, the ‘protection zone’ is 2 metres from the centre of a watercourse or field ditch, (or to land from the edge of the watercourse or field ditch to 1 metre on the landward side of the top of the bank) and 2m from the centre of a hedge, however in Wales, it is 1 metre from a hedge, earth bank or watercourse
The official inspecting bodies for Cross Compliance in both countries are:
England: Rural Payments Agency (RPA), Environment Agency (EA)
The current regulations in England that farmers need to adhere to are:
- The Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution Regulations in 2022 (Farming Rules for Water)
- Cross Compliance Regulations (England) this includes NVZ
Wales: Rural Payments Wales (RPW), Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
The current regulations in Wales that farmers need to adhere to are:
- The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) Regulations 2021
- Cross Compliance Regulations (Wales) this includes NVZ
Even though the Welsh NVZ rules almost mirror the English NVZ rules, the Welsh are currently in a ‘transition period’ to bring yards/farming practice/paperwork up to NVZ standard, as this simply cannot be done overnight.
Please see below for the completion stages required for each NVZ topic:
Requirements from 1 April 2021
- Storage of silage and slurry should be compliant
- Notifying Natural Resources Wales (NRW) of the construction of any new substantially enlarged or reconstructed silo or slurry storage system
- Controlling the spreading of nitrogen fertiliser at high-risk times and high-risk areas
- Incorporating organic manures into bare soil or stubble; and
- Closed periods for spreading manufactured nitrogen fertiliser
Requirements from 1 January 2023
- Risk maps
- Accurate applications of fertiliser
- Calculate manure storage
- Temporary field heap rules
- Nitrogen limits – (whole farm loading and field limits)
- Record imports and exports of manure
- Nutrient Management Planning and recording; and
- Nmax (maximum nitrogen limits by crop type)
Requirements from 1 August 2024
- Closed periods for spreading nitrogen fertiliser (includes slurry and other organic manures)
- Storage capacity for slurry; and
- Storage periods for manure
From 2023 Welsh Cross Compliance/NVZ inspections will be noticeably different in terms of the paperwork required during an audit. As we progress into the second stage of the ‘transition period’ the required paperwork increases massively.
At CXCS we cover both English and Welsh paperwork to NVZ standard, so if you have concerns or simply want a discussion about how we can help, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01981 590514.
