The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations began a staggered introduction from April 2021.
As part of that transition, Welsh farmers would have seen a 170kg/ha nitrogen limit imposed on all farms in Wales from 1st January 2023. This measure was expected to cause widespread economic uncertainty, with many farmers facing the decision to reduce stocking numbers on their holdings. Following this concern, an announced 3-month delay to the rule implementation has been welcomed by many Welsh farmers, pushing the date back to 1st April 2023.
There are still aspects of the NVZ rule transition to be confirmed, for example the potential to extend the 170kg/ha N limit to 250kg/ha N limit, to run until 2025. A 12-week consultation has been launched surrounding the extension of the 170kg/ha N limit, and farmers are being encouraged to take an active role. As part of the proposed scheme, farmers would be able to apply for a licence for a higher annual holding organic nitrogen limit, subject to crop need and other legal considerations.
Even though there has been a delay of 3 months for the implementation of the 170kg/ha N limit, Welsh farmers will still need to be looking at completing whole farm loading calculations to see what figures they run at with current farm management, to help them decide what needs to be reduced/adjusted/sacrificed to fulfil the 170 rule, unless the 250 derogation is made available.
