NVZ Closed Period Dates - Wales
Closed periods in Wales
On the 1st of August, the final phase of ‘The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021’ (CoAPR) legislation came into effect which introduced closed periods for spreading high readily available Nitrogen manures.
| Soil Type | Grassland | Tillage Land |
| Sandy or shallow soil | 1st September – 31st December | 1st August – 31st December |
| All other soils | 15th October – 15th January | 1st October – 31st January |
Exemptions to closed periods
Spreading organic manure with high readily available Nitrogen on tillage land with sandy or shallow soil is permitted between 1st August and 15th September inclusive, provided that the crop is sown on or before 15th September.
Exemptions to Organic Producers
Registered organic producers may spread organic manure with high readily available Nitrogen at any time on crops listed in the table below, or other crops in accordance with written justification from a person who is a member of FACTS, provided that each hectare on which organic manure is spread does not receive more than 150 kg total Nitrogen between the start of the closed period and the end of February.
| Crop | Maximum Nitrogen rate (kg/hectare) |
| Oilseed rape, winter (a) | 30 |
| Asparagus | 50 |
| Brassica (b) | 100 |
| Grass (a) (c) | 80 |
| Over-wintered salad onions | 40 |
| Parsley | 40 |
| Bulb onions | 40 |
a) Nitrogen must not be spread on these crops after 31st October.
b) An additional 50kg of Nitrogen per hectare may be spread every four weeks during the closed period up to the date of harvest.
c) A maximum of 40kg of Nitrogen per hectare may be spread at any one time.
Post closed period restrictions
From the end of the closed period until the end of February the maximum amount of slurry that may be spread at any one time is 30 cubic metres per hectare and the maximum amount of poultry manure that may be spread at any one time is 8 tonnes per hectare. There must be at least three weeks between each spreading.
Further help & advice
Read the full guidance at: https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2023-10/water-resources-control-agricultural-pollution-wales-regulations-2021-guidance-farmers-and-land.pdf
As specialists in agricultural compliance, we are here to guide farmers through the legislation and provide the necessary paperwork to comply with these new requirements. For further help and advice, please contact our Agricultural Compliance team on 01981 590514.
