Farmers urged to prepare as the spreading closed period approaches

While many parts of Wales continue to experience the impacts of prolonged dry weather, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is reminding farmers and landowners that the closed period for spreading slurry and other high readily available nitrogen organic manures is approaching.

Spreading restrictions are in place over the autumn and winter months under the Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations (CoAPR), to help minimise agricultural pollution by preventing nutrients from being lost through leaching or surface run off into watercourses.

In Wales, the closed period varies according to soil type and land use. For sandy or shallow soils, spreading is prohibited from 1 September to 31 December on grassland and 1 August to 31 December on tillage land. For all other soils, the closed period runs from 15 October to 15 January on grassland and 1 October to 31 January on tillage land.

Farmers are encouraged to ensure they have sufficient storage capacity to comply with the regulatory requirements and safely store the organic manures throughout the closed period.

Organic manures should only be spread outside the closed period, but farmers also need to consider the nutrient management plan and only apply when the ground and weather conditions are suitable.

Applying organic manures to waterlogged, flooded, frozen or snow-covered land, or when heavy rainfall is forecast, increases the risk of valuable nutrients being lost from fields and entering nearby watercourses and breaches regulations.

Simon Griffiths, Team Leader of NRW’s North Wales Control of Agricultural Pollution Team said: "The closed period is an important part of reducing the risk of agricultural pollution during the wetter autumn and winter months.

“We encourage farmers and landowners to plan ahead, ensure they have enough storage capacity, and only apply organic manures when conditions are suitable.”

NRW is committed to protecting the environment and any instances of non-compliance with the regulations and pollution reports will be investigated. Where there is sufficient evidence, appropriate enforcement action will be taken.

Farmers and members of the public are urged to report any pollution incidents immediately by contacting NRW’s 24/7 incident communications centre via the online report it form or by calling 0300 065 3000.