NSA Cymru/Wales Region Development Officer, Helen Roberts, says: "NSA Cymru believes such a draconian approach enforcing a whole of Wales Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) is short sighted of Welsh Government. It is especially concerning that some of the licence conditions limit sward diversity but furthermore essentially enforce a stocking limit across Welsh farmland."

The regulations in their current form place a limit – measured as 170kg nitrogen per hectare – on the nutrients from livestock manures that may be applied across a holding annually. The proposals focus on arrangements by which a licence might be granted in certain circumstances that would allow the 170kg nitrogen per hectare to be exceeded, up to a maximum of 250kg nitrogen per hectare, subject to a crop requirement and conditions designed to protect the environment.

NSA Cymru/Wales Chair, Kate Hovers, comments: "It has long been evidenced that the sheep sector is often the gateway into agriculture for new entrants and young farmers, who are likely to seek any grazing available to them to start their farming enterprises. Enforcing these regulations in a blanket approach takes opportunity away from these young people as much of the grazing available to them is found on dairy farming land, not only that but limiting the grazing diversity across farms in Wales including limiting the winter tack availability. It is also concerning in a time of extreme inflation of input costs Welsh Government are intent on adding to the burden."

Mrs Roberts adds: "In the response NSA Cymru /Wales Region has outlined support for a licencing regime but emphasises that a 170kg/N/ha limit would serve as a mandatory stocking limit on farms already struggling with the cost of inflation and the supply chain crisis. At a time when government should be focusing on improving the country's sustainability and food security, a 170kg/N/ha limit is a definitive way to reduce production, self-sufficiency, and productivity, and destroy the industry's faith in government to champion Welsh agriculture."