Independent chair of Welsh water quality review appointed
© Tim Scrivener 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 exchange for Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). She was previously a director of research at AHDB and has a long history of working in the agri-food industry.
The review of the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021, mandated every four years, aims to evaluate and, if necessary, revise the regulations to reduce or prevent water pollution from agricultural sources.
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A final report and recommendations from the review to Welsh ministers are expected by the end of March 2025.
Huw Irranca-Davies, the Welsh government’s rural affairs minister, said: “Dr Bolton’s appointment marks an important milestone in ensuring this review is undertaken in a collaborative way and is effective in helping to deliver positive outcomes for farmers and the environment in Wales.”
NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said farmers continue to grapple with significant costs and challenges in complying with the current requirements.
He stressed the need for practical changes to the regulations to make the rules more workable on farms.
In particular, Mr Jones said the review must consider the realities of farm operations, especially concerning the 170kg/ha nitrogen limit of spreading organic manure on farmland, the “farming by calendar” approach, record-keeping, and infrastructure investment.
NFU Cymru has established a water quality review group, led by dairy farmer Martin Griffiths, to gather farmer feedback and propose solutions.
Online survey
The group launched an online survey at the Royal Welsh Show to collect data on farmers’ experiences with the regulations, covering aspects such as record-keeping, nitrogen limits, planning, and the impact of new slurry storage requirements, which come into force on 1 August 2024.
Mr Griffiths said the survey aims to understand the practical difficulties faced by farmers and the importance of developing workable solutions that ensure both regulatory compliance and environmental protection.
NFU Cymru aims to contribute constructively to the review to balance agricultural productivity with sustainable water management.
Farmers are encouraged to participate in the survey, available on the NFU Cymru website, with support from the union’s team at upcoming county shows.