Rule

Proving & Checking Compliance

1

a) Application of organic manures and manufactured fertilisers to cultivated land must be planned in advance to meet soil and crop nutrient needs and not exceed these levels.

b) Soil testing must be carried out for Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, pH and Nitrogen levels at least every 5 years, for cultivated land.

Compare farm fertiliser records with crop nutrient requirements. Farmers can demonstrate compliance after visit by providing soil test results, cropping plans and evidence of nutrient application.

2

Organic manures must not be stored on land:

a) Within 10 metres of inland freshwaters or coastal waters.

b) Where there is significant risk of run-off entering inland freshwaters or coastal waters.

c) Within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole.

Check the condition of the soil and current and previous weather conditions. Assess the risks in a field of run off and soil erosion should anything be applied (slope, soil conditions such as compaction, soil structure etc). Check for any signs that polluted soil erosion and / or run off has occurred.

4

Organic manures must not be applied:

a) Within 10 metres of any inland freshwaters or coastal waters, except, if precision equipment is used within 6 metres of inland freshwaters or coastal waters.

b) Within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole.

Check calibration records. Verify any buffer strips. Check distance from any spread material to water and look for signs of associated water pollution. Check for any signs of manures deposited onto the surface within restricted distances.

5

Manufactured fertiliser must not be applied within 2 metres of inland freshwaters or coastal waters.

Check for obvious visual signs of fertiliser prills (pellets) or granules within the restricted zone. Excessive growth of marginal vegetation may indicate fertiliser encroachment.Soil may be tested for nutrients in the 2 metre zone and the remaining field if appropriate.

Rule

Proving & Checking Compliance

6

Take all reasonable precautions to prevent significant soil erosion and run-off from:

a) Seedbeds, tramlines, rows, beds, stubbles (including harvested land with haulm), polytunnels and irrigation.

b) Poaching by livestock.

c) From the application of organic manures and fertilisers.

Check to see that reasonable precautions to prevent erosion and run-off over a single area of 1 or more hectares caused by cropping or livestock have been taken. Take into account that the correct crop for the inherent field risk has been planted and that pollution risks from the activity have been minimised by taking appropriate steps to minimise soil pollution. Where soil erosion or soil run-off causes pollution and evidence of erosion is found to be coming from an area over 1 hectare or more, the source, pathway and receptor need to be identified.

7

Any land within 5 metres of inland freshwaters or coastal waters must be protected from significant soil erosion by preventing poaching by livestock.

Verify the distance of any livestock poaching identified along a continuous stretch of a watercourse to see if it exceeds 20 or more metres long and 2 or more metres wide. Any poaching measuring this distance within 5 metres of any inland freshwater, or coastal waters is a breach.

8

Livestock feeders must not be positioned:

a) Within 10 metres of any inland freshwaters or coastal waters.

b) Within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole.

c) Where there is significant risk of pollution from poaching around the feeder entering any inland freshwaters or coastal waters.

Verify the distance of livestock feeders from an inland freshwater or coastal water. Also check to see if livestock feeders pose a risk to water quality by being located in high-risk areas that will act as a pathway.