Confusion reigns over manure spreading this autumn and the NAAC has spoken to the Environment Agency (EA) to clarify the position for contractors.
The Farming Rules for Water are moving applications to spring rather than autumn to try and reduce nitrates pollution. ‘Rule 1’ requires that the application of organic manure and manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land must be planned so that the application does not exceed the needs of the soil and crop on land, or give rise to a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution. The weather conditions and forecasts for the land at the time of application must also be considered.
A Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) has been recently issued by the EA to give more flexibility this autumn, which will allow organic manures to be spread to land which may exceed the needs of the soil but must still not risk pollution. Confused yet?
Thankfully we are told all responsibility lies firmly with the landowner/manager and only they will be prosecuted. However, contractors must be given clear instructions and there can be a blurred line between land managers and contractors.
A list of frequently asked questions has been produced by the EA and the link is here. This will be kept live and updated so it is worth checking back. It is a substantial document but has lots of valuable questions and is certainly worth a read.
It seems likely that this autumn will be a muddle through spreading, with everyone trying to get it right, with some flexibility being provided by the RPS. However, the real challenges will arise in 2022, without an RPS, when it will be vital that we know what can be spread, when and how. Contractors will have a vital role to play in application and it is likely that knowledge and professionalism will be key, backed up by the ability to log applications and report to clients. The NAAC will be watching closely and will report back to members.
