Autumn manure banned

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
I've stuck my head above the parapet and applied to the EA for a RPS, due to the fact I've got 100's of tons of Nutri-bio sat in fields waiting to be spread.This stuff is not free,I wouldn't apply it if there wasn't a crop need,its a good product.
The Nutri-bio advisor told me to apply to the EA and not to spread,its on my own head,I'll be picking up any fine if I get prosecuted ,yet the spreading contractor is ringing around asking farmers if he can spread.
He hasn't rung me to be fair.
This product is so tightly regulated they know where every ton has gone,spread or not.

Anglian water have said they will remove the product if I want,Lord only knows what they are going to do with the stuff,think the water boards need to block up some toilets in the EA buildings and tell them to deal with stuff themselves.😄
I'll give it a week or two before I decide what I'm doing,literally just had a RPA inspection this week,sick and tired of constantly looking over my shoulder at who's trying to catch me out,
Whether it's RT,EA or RPA and its in the middle of harvest,anyone would think I'm sat at home twiddling my thumbs.

The bit of broiler muck I've got is going in front of the OSR,so is OK, crop need.
Ironically this is my last crop if birds going out of my sheds,so this isn't going to be a issue for me,at least they can burn chicken muck at Thetford,which is probably going to be inundated now££££££,this situation is just unbelievable,the idiots have taken over the asylum/country 🤪🤪☹.

Yep. Saw you had a few heaps of nutripoo sat in fields. Who spreads yours? The MPs husband. Didn't realise you were packing in with the broilers. If you get prosecuted reckon you will have several others at the magistrates with you!
 

Old apprentice

Member
Arable Farmer
My grandfather was an avid fisherman in a local river he always said as soon as the roads were tarmaced the fishing was never the same. Before the roads were tarmaced the water was always a lighter colour they went darker after,and a lot of use know how our beloved rt say you can't use a grain trailer if you put road plantings in it. Just think of all the tyer rubber and oil products going down rivers now with the volume of traffic today.
 

B'o'B

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Rutland
That would mean Cross Compliance would have to be breached. Are the FRfW part of Cross Compliance? NVZ rules are.
I refer you to GAEC3 - Groundwater
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guide-to-cross-compliance-in-england-2021/gaec-3-groundwater

You must meet the rules about:

  • having a permit from the Environment Agency before carrying out, causing or knowingly allowing any activity that pollutes or has the potential to pollute groundwater with a hazardous substance or non-hazardous pollutant
  • complying with the conditions of any permit or notice from the Environment Agency.
 

Luke Cropwalker

Member
Arable Farmer
I’m sure the EA are finding this thread very interesting.
If the EA are watching this thread then perhaps for another season they will consider having a higher permissible nitrate leaching level than the proposed 5Kg/Ha? A higher level would allow reasonable quantities of organic matter to be spread on land, and as we all know higher OM soils retain more water and nutrients. The quantity of OM spread could be even higher in some instances such as if straw was chopped or if a crop was established with direct drilling to avoid mineralising soil N through cultivations.
 

B'o'B

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Rutland
If the EA are watching this thread then perhaps for another season they will consider having a higher permissible nitrate leaching level than the proposed 5Kg/Ha? A higher level would allow reasonable quantities of organic matter to be spread on land, and as we all know higher OM soils retain more water and nutrients. The quantity of OM spread could be even higher in some instances such as if straw was chopped or if a crop was established with direct drilling to avoid mineralising soil N through cultivations.
You make it sound like these rule are meant to be able to be compiled with🤣🤣
You either laugh or cry😢😢😢
 

Bomber101

Member
BASIS
Location
Trent, Dorset

Applying organic manure and manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land​

4.—(1) A land manager must ensure that, for each application of organic manure or manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land, the application—

(a)is planned so that it does not—

(i)exceed the needs of the soil and crop on that land, or

(ii)give rise to a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution, and

(b)takes into account the weather conditions and forecasts for that land at the time of the application.

(2) When planning under paragraph (1)(a)(ii), the land manager must ensure that any factors which mean there would be a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution from the application are taken into account, including—

(a)the slope of the land, in particular if greater than 12 degrees,

(b)any ground cover,

(c)proximity of the land to inland freshwaters, coastal waters, wetlands, or to a spring, well or borehole,

(d)the soil type and condition of the land, and

(e)the presence and condition of any agricultural land drains.

(3) In addition to paragraphs (1) and (2), the land manager must ensure that reasonable precautions are taken to prevent agricultural diffuse pollution resulting from applications.

(4) Without limiting what may otherwise be done to comply with paragraph (3), examples of reasonable precautions include—

(a)checking spreading equipment for leaks and correct calibration,

(b)incorporating organic manure and manufactured fertiliser into the soil within 12 hours of, or as soon as possible after, its application, and

(c)checking the organic matter content in, and moisture levels of, the soil.

(5) In this regulation—

“spreading equipment” means any machinery used for the application of organic manure or manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land and includes precision spreading equipment;

“wetlands” means land that is covered with or saturated by water permanently or for a significant part of the year.

The above is the actual legislation from 2018. Does this mean we either have to use RB209 and assess crop and soil requirement or can we apply a manure application to any land that does not exceed the MANNER 5kg/ha nitrate leaching rate which is circa 35t/ha for three month old cattle FYM?
 

Luke Cropwalker

Member
Arable Farmer

Applying organic manure and manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land​

4.—(1) A land manager must ensure that, for each application of organic manure or manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land, the application—

(a)is planned so that it does not—

(i)exceed the needs of the soil and crop on that land, or

(ii)give rise to a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution, and

(b)takes into account the weather conditions and forecasts for that land at the time of the application.

(2) When planning under paragraph (1)(a)(ii), the land manager must ensure that any factors which mean there would be a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution from the application are taken into account, including—

(a)the slope of the land, in particular if greater than 12 degrees,

(b)any ground cover,

(c)proximity of the land to inland freshwaters, coastal waters, wetlands, or to a spring, well or borehole,

(d)the soil type and condition of the land, and

(e)the presence and condition of any agricultural land drains.

(3) In addition to paragraphs (1) and (2), the land manager must ensure that reasonable precautions are taken to prevent agricultural diffuse pollution resulting from applications.

(4) Without limiting what may otherwise be done to comply with paragraph (3), examples of reasonable precautions include—

(a)checking spreading equipment for leaks and correct calibration,

(b)incorporating organic manure and manufactured fertiliser into the soil within 12 hours of, or as soon as possible after, its application, and

(c)checking the organic matter content in, and moisture levels of, the soil.

(5) In this regulation—

“spreading equipment” means any machinery used for the application of organic manure or manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land and includes precision spreading equipment;

“wetlands” means land that is covered with or saturated by water permanently or for a significant part of the year.

The above is the actual legislation from 2018. Does this mean we either have to use RB209 and assess crop and soil requirement or can we apply a manure application to any land that does not exceed the MANNER 5kg/ha nitrate leaching rate which is circa 35t/ha for three month old car

Applying organic manure and manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land​

4.—(1) A land manager must ensure that, for each application of organic manure or manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land, the application—

(a)is planned so that it does not—

(i)exceed the needs of the soil and crop on that land, or

(ii)give rise to a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution, and

(b)takes into account the weather conditions and forecasts for that land at the time of the application.

(2) When planning under paragraph (1)(a)(ii), the land manager must ensure that any factors which mean there would be a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution from the application are taken into account, including—

(a)the slope of the land, in particular if greater than 12 degrees,

(b)any ground cover,

(c)proximity of the land to inland freshwaters, coastal waters, wetlands, or to a spring, well or borehole,

(d)the soil type and condition of the land, and

(e)the presence and condition of any agricultural land drains.

(3) In addition to paragraphs (1) and (2), the land manager must ensure that reasonable precautions are taken to prevent agricultural diffuse pollution resulting from applications.

(4) Without limiting what may otherwise be done to comply with paragraph (3), examples of reasonable precautions include—

(a)checking spreading equipment for leaks and correct calibration,

(b)incorporating organic manure and manufactured fertiliser into the soil within 12 hours of, or as soon as possible after, its application, and

(c)checking the organic matter content in, and moisture levels of, the soil.

(5) In this regulation—

“spreading equipment” means any machinery used for the application of organic manure or manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land and includes precision spreading equipment;

“wetlands” means land that is covered with or saturated by water permanently or for a significant part of the year.

The above is the actual legislation from 2018. Does this mean we either have to use RB209 and assess crop and soil requirement or can we apply a manure application to any land that does not exceed the MANNER 5kg/ha nitrate leaching rate which is circa 35t/ha for three month old cattle FYM?
I read it is as the 5Kg/Ha figure is a derogation which is to be assessed before next year, we can only hope this figure is higher in the future.
 

Jack Russell

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Holderness
The problem is that if farmers don’t apply for the RPS252 form the EA will sit there next March and say well it can’t be much of an issue as we only had a few forms. The fear of telling the EA where we have muck heaps and what we are going to do will probably over ride filling in the forms.
 

B'o'B

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Rutland
The problem is that if farmers don’t apply for the RPS252 form the EA will sit there next March and say well it can’t be much of an issue as we only had a few forms. The fear of telling the EA where we have muck heaps and what we are going to do will probably over ride filling in the forms.
Farmers really are between a rock and a hard place on all this. It has been made extremely difficult to do the right thing with all of this, and very easy to do the wrong thing.
While I try not to be sucked into conspiracy theories on most things, it is very hard to resist the thought that there might well be alternative motives behind all this😢.
 

David.

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
J11 M40
Seriously giving it some thought.
Muck coming in this Winter would have to be spread into growing crop next April time whilst still green then, because it cannot be heaped more than 12 mths?
That would require finding someone with spinning disc spreaders, cause conflict with spray applications, that's two problems just off top of my head.
Maybe easier to just chop the straw, but I am loath to let these people win.
What is required is absolute solidarity and a total boycott of sewage sludge, municipal AD waste etc. Let the Country drown in its own filth.
What are the chances of solidarity? I'll give it 'till Thames, AW etc, offer to deliver and spread it for free.
 
Last edited:

jh.

Member
Location
fife
Someone posted a reply , can't remember if on this topic or another that could it also be to reduce Autumn ploughing . It got me wondering , could this be all part of the longer plan ?

Stop many autumn cropping , that saves soil damage from high rainfall as fields are left as stubble . It also reduces nutrition and chemical use as spring crops need less .

Do the gov really care if a farmer grows 4 ton an acre of winter cereal crops or 2 of spring . Less to handle , less to dry . If we run out we can always import as then it's some other countries carbon footprint until it hits the UK coastline . Sure our lot see everything imported as 100% green until it's in the UK
 

Sonoftheheir

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
West Suffolk
@jh. Yes I said that, we would normally put
On cattle muck now to plough down and over winter the soil for potatoes and sugar beet next year. Now the conditions and timelyness is right.

We’ll just have to use more diesel breaking the soil down in the spring I guess🤷🏻‍♂️
 

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