Plans to designate all of Wales an NVZ have surprised and angered farmers, but what will it mean – and how can farmers avoid falling foul of the rules? Evie Price our cross-compliance experts explains.
Remind us what’s happened?
The Welsh government has decided to declare the whole country a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ), which will mean new rules and regulations apply to fertiliser, manure and slurry storage, handling and spreading. Previously, 2.4% of Wales’s land area was estimated to be in an NVZ – these rules will mean that every farmer is.
How do farmers feel about it?
Surprised, angry and worried. Surprised because all the signals coming from government were that this wasn’t immediately on the cards. Angry because it’s being introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. And worried because it will mean more paperwork, require changes to management practices and, for some, bring extra costs in terms of storage facilities.
Is it necessary?
The government claims it’s because of a “significant and ongoing” agricultural pollution, but it feels like a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Farmers understand the need for responsible environmental management and dealing with this will be a big challenge for many, with many facing a financial squeeze as a result of falling BPS support.
When does it take effect?
The government is talking about a transitional approach, so I’d certainly hope we’ll see a period where understanding, advice, support are the watchwords, rather than strict enforcement and prosecution.
Who will it affect most?
It applies to every single farm in Wales, but potentially those with a large number of livestock and / or high stocking rates will be most worried. Some dairy farmers will be particularly affected because of the slurry storage rules. Arable farmers will now be required to keep whole-farm nitrogen calculations, risk maps, field records and N-Max calculations. They may have some of these already if they’re farm assured, but they may well not.
What’s an example of the sorts of practical changes farmers might need to make?
There will be closed periods for spreading slurry and poultry manure, so it might have to be applied earlier in the autumn or later in the spring. It might also have to be applied at a lower rate.
Give us 3 tips on how to avoid common breaches
Don’t forget to include Soil Nitrogen Supply (SNS) on your field records. Make sure you include data for every field, even if you haven’t applied fertiliser or manure to it. Remember to include ditches on field maps, even if they’re dry for part or all of the year.
For serious breaches, the penalty could be a prosecution and a big fine, but even for relatively minor breaches, such as having missing records, it could equate to 3-5% of your BPS.
Tell us about the paperwork?
NVZ paperwork is more complicated than doing a BPS application so can be time-consuming. While the record keeping can sometimes feel like a box-ticking exercise, it can help you understand if you are meeting the requirements or need to change your management practices.
Where can I get advice and support?
There is guidance out there, but busy farmers may not have the time to digest and interpret this (government documents aren’t always easy to decipher!)
This is where we can help. Our motto is “We do the paperwork, you go farming” and we will save you time and give you peace of mind, helping you comply with the rules and guaranteeing your paperwork will pass any inspection. Call one of our specialists on 01981 590514 or email info@cxcs.co.uk.
