Welsh farmers struggle under crushing costs of NVZ rules

Welsh farmers are grappling with crippling costs, mental strain, and disrupted operations as they struggle to comply with stringent water quality regulations, a survey by NFU Cymru reveals.

Some have spent over £200,000 on infrastructure, while others have cut livestock or acquired land to meet tough nitrogen limits.

The survey of 406 farmers by NFU Cymru highlights the sweeping impacts of the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021.

See also: Appeals process set out for breaches of Welsh NVZ rules

The union’s findings reveal the regulations are forcing significant changes in farming systems, with serious consequences for business viability and farmer wellbeing.

Emotional and financial toll

Farmers have reported the toll on their emotions alongside financial burdens.

One respondent cited “mental health, stress, marriage is being strained”, while another described the severe financial pressure their farm faced due to substantial investments required by the rules.

NFU Cymru found that 260 farmers had already invested in infrastructure or were in the process of doing so.

For 32 of them, the costs exceeded £200,000, and for another 79, the outlay topped £100,000.

The Welsh government has allocated £20m in grants to help farmers comply, but only 56 of those surveyed accessed the funding.

Delays in securing planning permission for infrastructure improvements prevented many from meeting the terms of grant offers.

Almost half of farmers required planning consent, a process they described as “challenging” and in need of fast-tracking.

Key areas of concern include restrictions on spreading manure during closed periods and the nitrogen cap of 170kg/ha from livestock.

Over a third of farmers (38%) reported being impacted by the nitrogen limit, a figure rising to 69% among dairy farms.

Almost half of those affected reduced livestock numbers, while 51% rented or bought additional land to comply.

NFU Cymru has called for exemptions for farms under bovine TB restrictions from the nitrogen cap and urged the government to commit additional grant funding.

The union argues that the “whole Wales” approach is disproportionate, imposing excessive burdens on farms in areas with good water quality and no history of agricultural pollution incidents.

Rigid system ‘not working’

Ceredigion dairy farmer Martin Griffiths, chairman of the NFU Cymru Water Quality Review Group, said the regulations should be targeted based on evidence rather than a “farming by calendar” approach.

“This rigid system does not work,” he said, adding that regulations should focus on areas with a proven need for water quality improvement.

The survey findings have informed an NFU Cymru Evidence Submission given to Dr Susannah Bolton, the independent external chair who is overseeing a statutory review of the regulations.