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Know How / NVZs

Farmers with land in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) need to follow the rules on restricted use of nitrogen fertilisers and organic manures and slurry. Get advice on appealing an NVZ designation, how to use sewage sludge safely, how to safeguard drinking water and set up a manure management plan.

Advice and tips

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

Slurry grants: Funding and changes around the UK

Tighter muck and slurry spreading and storage requirements are now in place across the UK. We take a look at the rules for each of the nations, what funding is…

NVZS

What farmers need to do to use sewage sludge safely

The UK water industry generates well over 1m tonnes of sewage sludge each year, the bulk of which is treated and recycled on to land as a fertiliser and to…

BUSINESS

Business Clinic: Manure management plan advice

Whether you have a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Savills’ Stephen Lockwood advises on manure management plans. Q As an…

BUSINESS

What farmers need to know about appealing an NVZ designation

Farmers who are in Nitrate Vulnerable Zone designations in England are being warned they have just 28 days from being notified if they want to make a challenge. Defra is…

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Case studies

LIVESTOCK

Two dairy farmers on meeting NVZ regs to expand herds

Financial and planning considerations generally dictate herd expansion in dairy systems, but for farmers in nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs), environmental regulation can be the principal obstacle to increasing cow numbers.…

NEWS

‘Defra blunder crippled my farm business’

Devon beef and dairy producer Winston Reed has seen the administrators called in at Cleave Farm, Templeton, near Tiverton – despite winning a four-year battle with Defra, which saw the…

LIVESTOCK

Cut slurry volume when expanding your herd

A series of simple and cost-effective changes to slurry and effluent controls have allowed a Welsh dairy farm to reduce its storage requirements post-herd expansion and comply with pollution directives.…

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Insights

NVZS

The rules for arable farming in an NVZ in NI and Scotland

Nitrate vulnerable zones exist to protect the environment against potential pollution from fertiliser and manure applications. Each devolved nation has its own rules – so what do arable farmers need…

NVZS

Welsh farmers reveal crippling costs of new NVZ rules

The clash between farmers and the Welsh government over the new all-Wales nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) is intensifying into one of the most bitter disputes ever waged in the Welsh…

NVZS

The rules for arable farming in an NVZ in England

Nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) account for about 55% of land in England, making it more likely than not that a farming enterprise is within a designated NVZ. So with NVZs…

COMPLIANCE

Farmers plan nitrate trading system for Poole Harbour

In an innovative solution to protecting wildlife from agricultural nutrients in the Pool Harbour catchment area, farmers are working with the NFU and Wessex Water on a scheme to reduce…

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News

NEWS

Appeals process set out for breaches of Welsh NVZ rules

Welsh farmers who inadvertently breach the government’s new water quality regulations are to be given access to an “appeals process” if they can demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps to…

NVZS

Wet autumn piles pressure on slurry rules in Wales

A wet autumn in Wales is posing significant challenges for livestock farmers as they race to empty slurry stores before the imminent three-month ban on muck spreading, which runs from…

NEWS

Independent chair of Welsh water quality review appointed

NFU Cymru has welcomed the Welsh government’s decision to appoint Susannah Bolton as independent chairwoman to review water quality regulations in Wales. Dr Bolton is vice-principal for enterprise and knowledge…

NVZS

Campaigners urge Welsh government to postpone NVZ plans

Campaigners have asked the Welsh government to postpone plans to introduce final requirements for farmers to comply with nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) regulations. Representatives from campaign group Digon yw Digon…

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