Farmers should devise a manure and slurry storage and spreading plan for this autumn in view of continuing “inadequate information” from the Environment Agency (EA) about the Farming Rules for Water (FRfW) regulations. 

So suggests Charles Mayson, founder of Herefordshire-based agricultural compliance and farm safety specialists CXCS, following indications that Defra is now intending to place the onus on farmers to adopt a “risk-based” approach to interpretation of the controversial legislation.

Farmers are already facing huge challenges managing this winter’s manures, but with the exemption-giving RPS252 only valid to March 1 and a lack of clarity about what approach the EA will take next autumn and winter, farmers may be able to take action now to avoid potentially finding themselves in an impossible situation later in the year.

The EA have given no clarity on what a ‘risk-based’ approach is, but Mr Mayson advises that farmers and landowners can still produce a plan for spreading manures by soil testing, reviewing storage options and considering exporting excess manures. 

For anyone who hasn’t had their soil tested in the last four years, that should be a priority, says award-winning adviser Mr Mayson.

“If you don’t accurately measure your soil’s nutrients, you can’t manage them – and it doesn’t cost much to do. Once you have this information, it’s possible to come up with a plan for managing phosphate, potash and nitrogen levels so applications don’t contravene the ‘soil need’ decree in FRfW.

“It’s also worth re-examining storage options so you go into next autumn with as much unfilled capacity as possible. 

“Exporting might be an option if you know you will be unable to spread because soils already have plenty of nutrients, but of course if you’re in a predominantly dairying area, for example, you probably won’t be able export to a neighbour who has precisely the same problem! 

“The implementation of FRfW has been a farce,” says Mr Mayson. “Instead of supporting farmers with a proper education programme, Defra printed a few leaflets and thought they’d done their job".

Mr Mayson suggests that “current plans should be amended later on, in light of further advice from the EA”.