Spreading Regulations & Dates

A round up of the latest on organic nitrogen application dates, slurry application methods, the Slurry Infrastructure Grant and slurry storage requirements.

Organic Nitrogen

*For Tillage Land with crops sown on or before 15th September

When applying organic nitrogen, such as slurry, in the autumn, farmers must be able to justify the application. To do so they must:

• Analyse their soil and take the test results into consideration – does the land need additional applications of nitrogen or phosphate to grow the crop?
• Assess the land that is intended to be spread on; has it got a high risk of run-off? Is it sloping over 12 degrees?
• Assess crop need by looking at RB209, speaking with a FACTS qualified advisor, and/or use software such as Manner-NPK.

The above table shows the closed periods that apply to high readily available nitrogen manures when applying to land inside an NVZ. 
For land outside of an NVZ there are no closed periods, but under Farming Rules for Water, limits apply to spreading manures with high readily available nitrogen. For more information on these limits, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-the-farming-rules-for-water/applying-the-farming-rules-for-water  

Application methods:

Splash plate – splash plate applications can result in ammonia loss. Low trajectory splash plates are better as it minimises the loss and allows for more controlled application. However, it is best practice to only use a splash plate for spring and summer applications, when crops are growing, and weather conditions typically improve.

Injected – slurry injecting has around a 70% reduction in loss of ammonia emissions. It is an accurate and controlled method of spreading and reduces odour complaints.

Dribble bar / trailing shoe – these application methods allow for improved spreading accuracy, less nutrient loss, and would be acceptable with justification to use for autumn applications without a high risk of nutrient loss.

Slurry Infrastructure Grant:

This grant is aimed at farmers who have less than 6 months’ slurry storage, or have storage that is not SSAFO compliant, so that they can expand existing stores or build new stores to provide over 6 months’ compliant storage.

The grant could get the applicant up to 50% of the costs towards:

• A range of new slurry stores
• Impermeable covers
• Extra equipment such as pumps, pipes, & safety equipment

You can apply for this grant if your farming system produces slurry and you are farming any of the following:

• Pigs
• Beef Cattle
• Dairy Cattle

There are two stages to applications:

The first stage is an eligibility check which the RPA will conduct. They will ask for figures showing current storage, ask about locations & status of current planning permission.

Stage two is the full application which requires a full project plan including all details about what you intend to do whether that be expansion or a new build. The RPA & EA will check all details, and if successful you will then get a funding agreement.

For further details on how much money you can apply for and more details about follow up procedures, follow this government link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/slurry-infrastructure-grant/about-the-slurry-infrastructure-grant  

Slurry Storage Requirements:

AHDB have released a timeline which details that by 2027 all slurry stores/pits must be covered. There is also likely to be a ban on splash plate spreaders coming into force in 2025.

Current regulations allow for open slurry stores, as long as you have adequate storage over the winter (4 months if not in an NVZ, 5 months if within an NVZ). All current stores must also account for the freeboard allowance.

As well as what is produced from cubicle sheds and slatted flooring, slurry is classed as any run-off from:

• Solid manure stores
• Woodchip
• Straw-bedded corrals
• Stand-off pads
• Silage effluent mixed with dirty water if not collected in a separate tank

All stores must be impermeable and meet British anti-corrosion standards. If you undertake and work on stores built before March 1991, you must notify the EA of your intentions and the whole store must be brought up to current SSAFO standards.

SSAFO Regulations: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/storing-silage-slurry-and-agricultural-fuel-oil  

If you would like further help or advice on the above topic, please contact us on 01981 590514.