The National Farmers’ Union in Wales (NFU Cymru) and the Tenant Farmers Association in Wales (TFA Cymru) have welcomed the delay of the 170kg/ha annual holding organic nitrogen limit.
In a written statement yesterday (Wednesday, October 6), Welsh Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, announced that the implementation of the nitrogen limit has been extended from January 2023 to April 2023.
The announcement saw changes to elements of the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations as part of a co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru.
Griffiths also said that the extension is set to be accompanied by a consultation on a licensing scheme that would enable any farm business to apply for a licence for a higher annual holding nitrogen limit of 250kg/ha, subject to crop need and other legal considerations.
The consultation will consult on proposals for such a scheme to be operational until 2025.
NFU
NFU Cymru president, Aled Jones, said that the announcement of the delay of the nitrogen limit was welcome, as it “provides some additional breathing space for Welsh farmers facing the prospect of destocking their herds as a direct result of the regulations as they stood”.
“NFU Cyrmu has long believed that these regulations are unworkable and pose a significant threat to the viability of Welsh farming, the overall impact of which cannot be overestimated,” he said.
“For this reason, NFU Cymru has consistently opposed these regulations and has left no stone unturned in seeking to make these regulations more proportionate, including taking the matter to Judicial Review.”
Jones added that the union is pleased that through the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, the government has “listened to the very real concerns of Welsh farmers”.
“The licensing component now being consulted on by government gives all interested parties more time to find a fit-for-purpose, evidence-based solution that delivers the outcomes for water quality that we all wish to see, alongside a thriving Welsh agricultural sector,” Jones said.
In the announcement, Griffiths also said that up to £20 million in extra funding would be available to support compliance with the regulations.
Jones approved of this funding, and said that it is crucial that the money be used to support investment in infrastructure on farms.
TFA
TFA Cymru has also welcomed the plans announced by Griffiths.
It approves of the increase of the maximum nitrogen loading limit in certain circumstances, and the £20 million in funding that was announced.
However, TFA Cymru chair, Dennis Matheson, said that the TFA is frustrated that other issues, specific to tenant farmers in Wales, have not been addressed by the Welsh government.
“Since the original consultation in 2016, which was a precursor to the new regulations, TFA Cymru has consistently sought answers from Welsh government as to how the tenanted sector will be able to comply,” Matheson said.
“The issues have also been at the forefront of discussions within the Wales Land Management Forum Pollution Subgroup, upon which I have represented TFA Cyrmu.
“The stony silence from Welsh government on these issues is simply unacceptable.”
Matheson said the new regulations fail to take into consideration that in many cases, it will be landlords who hold the responsibility to ensure that slurry stores on let holdings comply with new regulatory standards.
“We have said that these issues should be addressed in the context of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill,” Matheson said.
“However, Welsh Government has now introduced the bill without any provisions and without any explanation as to why it has decided not to do so.”
