The chair of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has warned that efforts to tackle agricultural pollution are not being prioritised in the country.

Set up in 2013, Natural Resources Wales combines the functions of the Forestry Commission and Environment Agency in Wales.

In an open letter to the Welsh Environment Secretary Lesley Griffiths, timed to coincide with the Royal Welsh Show, the arms-length body’s chair Diana McCrea highlighted the toll agricultural pollution is having on the environment, especially slurry, soil and chemicals running into water courses.

Speaking ahead of an event at the agricultural show on Monday, at which stakeholders will discuss what can be done to tackle pollution from farms in Wales, Diana McCrea said, “In the past seven-and-a-half years we have dealt with 679 reported pollution incidents from farms. This works out at 70-120 every year and, in a country as small as Wales, is clearly unacceptable.”

Ms McCrea said, “Not only does it take a lot of staff time and effort, it also causes a lot of damage to the environment, mainly our streams and rivers, and affects drinking water, wildlife and the economy.

“And while we subsequently take some form of enforcement action in 70 per cent of these incidents what we really need – to help the environment and farmers - is to reduce the number of incidents from happening in the first place.”

She said NRW has set up a working group with stakeholders from Welsh farming unions and the water industry, but highlighted that the Welsh government needs to make pollution a priority in her letter to the Environment Secretary.

In the letter, Ms McCrea set out a list of actions the government can take to tackle pollution, including:

• reviewing silage and slurry storage regulations so that stores are less likely to fail
• updating the Code of Good Agricultural Practice to guide the industry and help farmers comply with their responsibilities
• making it possible to use civil sanctions to tackle the issue so NRW could avoid court proceedings in some instances (which she said is better for the agency, the farmer and potentially the environment)
• making the regulations around Anaerobic Digestion plants more effective
• reviewing the range of grants and incentives available to farmers to create an integrated approach to tackle the issue

 
On Monday, a Welsh Government spokesperson said, “We have received the letter from the Chair of Natural Resources Wales. The Cabinet Secretary will respond in full in due course.
 
“Tackling agricultural pollution is crucial if we are to improve water quality in Wales. Pollution incidents from farms, of which we have had a spate recently, are having a significant and detrimental impact. We look forward to working with Natural Resources, the farming industry and other respective parties to find a solution that works for all parties.”

The NRW Chair’s warning comes after river and fishing groups warned that pollution from farms is “Out of control” in the spring. The groups said budget cuts had seriously hampered NRW’s ability to protect fisheries.