New farming rules for water were introduced in April 2018 to help protect water quality. These rules require farmers to:
- - keep soil on the land
- - match nutrients to crop and soil needs
- - keep livestock fertilisers and manures out of the water
There are 8 rules as follows:
- 1. Fertiliser and Manure management: planning
- 2. Storing manures: location
- 3. Applying manures: restrictions on when to apply
- 4. Organic fertiliser management: restrictions on where to apply
- 5. Manufactured fertiliser management: restrictions on where to apply
- 6. Soil management: preventing significant soil erosion and runoff
- 7. Soil management: preventing poaching by livestock
- 8. Manage livestock: position of feeders
The environment agency is responsible for enforcing these rules.
We can offer assistance with completing records required under the new regulations, for example, risk maps.