NVZ Records on Small Parcels of Land

[Frank-the-Wool]

I have just had a phone call from the "Environment Police" that they want to do an inspection on some land that is in a NVZ.
I have been farming the land for a few years and was almost derelict. The landlord takes the BPS and didn't know about the NVZ and I have the land on a TLA.

Most of it is grass and no fertilizer is used.
The only spray was to burn off some old rough grass to plant Turnips, which were Direct drilled.

Livestock numbers have been low around one yearling beef animal to the acre.

What records do I need to "invent" to keep them happy? The spray records are fine.

It is odd that this land is in a NVZ as I have land lower down the valley which isn't in one!! It is immediately below a chicken farm and a small sewage works though.

 

[kfpben]

Any muck/slurry spreading?
That’s all I can think of if no artificial fertiliser is used. Perhaps some evidence of stocking rates.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Any muck/slurry spreading?
That’s all I can think of if no artificial fertiliser is used. Perhaps some evidence of stocking rates.

None at all!
Do have the livestock numbers so not sure what else they need?

 

[sticky]

Do you have to work out what N the cattle have deposited?

 

[Tomo23]

We've land in an NVZ at work and as far as I know the only rules we stick to, are the closed periods for spreading slurry. Never limited cattle numbers on it and still go on with bedding muck if conditions allow. Obviously don't spray in the winter closed period so thats never a problem.

 

[Farm Matters Ltd]

Hi we have been supplying software for a few years now to cover the NVZ compliance records and to present to the inspector. I would be happy to take you through this and the requirements free of charge if you wish so that I can help you produce the necessary for your inspection just get in touch regards Neil 07966212898

 

[som farmer]

we got pulled up, by the EA, on a 3acre field, in the village, we get for free, pp and stock only. We are meant to soil sample/test, once in every 4 yr period, he was a barsteward though.

other than that, its fert within the limits, no shite in closed period, records to prove that.

 

[MRT]

It is bizzare you need to keep records to defend yourself rather than the onus on them to prove guilt

 

[In the pit]

It is bizzare you need to keep records to defend yourself rather than the onus on them to prove guilt

You should be keeping records more to protect yourself
Simple records there amount of cattle on land and then just work sh!t they’ve deposited and jobs a good un

 

[Wombat]

we got pulled up, by the EA, on a 3acre field, in the village, we get for free, pp and stock only. We are meant to soil sample/test, once in every 4 yr period, he was a barsteward though.

other than that, its fert within the limits, no shite in closed period, records to prove that.

Our EA inspection back in July was one of the best we have had, really super and sensible chap.

 

[som farmer]

It is bizzare you need to keep records to defend yourself rather than the onus on them to prove guilt

we have had all sorts of inspections over the years, right down to being unlucky, in getting a random cross compliance inspection. All the RPA inspections, are short notice, and have coped with all of them, easily, the cross compliance one, made me worry beforehand, but was absolutely fine, sensible and realistic, all my records have sufficed.

then we get to Red Tractor, annual inspections. The idea of farm assurance, is absolutely sound. However, RT has gone way beyond that idea, its the worst example of ticking boxes you could wish to find, 75% of it, is utterly pointless, a person, sat at a table, for 2 hrs, ticking, or x'ing boxes on a form, is stupid.

And the 'inspectors' are all different in their 'targets'. We have an outside milk bulk tank, one inspector told us we had to put a roof over it, in 48 hrs, or she would close us down, she backed down on the threat of court action, by the tank makers, she was horrendous, and we formally complained, a re-inspection, by her, with her line manager, proved totally different, and no problem.

Another duly informed me, all our NVZ records were in the wrong format, apparently, RT and RPA, records are not compatible

But the worst inspection was one by an EA jobsworth, took him 18 months, to realise we were compliant, and he couldn't 'do' us !!

 

[ringi]

Do you have to work out what N the cattle have deposited?

Not if it is clear you are below the limits. For example if you don't import any sources of N including livestock feed it is practically impossible to go over the limits. Eg a field that is grazed with no fert, no slurry, no FYM and livestock never fed on it.

But in such cases of an off farm field, the records of livestock numbers in each week in the field would make the calcs easy.

 

[delilah]

The landlord takes the BPS and didn't know about the NVZ and I have the land on a TLA.

Does the landlord have any land other than this ? We had our first ever EA visit last week, they are getting their records up to date as evidently not done an inventory for over a decade of what farms they have on their patch, you may find it is no more than that.

 

[milkloss]

Does the landlord have any land other than this ? We had our first ever EA visit last week, they are getting their records up to date as evidently not done an inventory for over a decade of what farms they have on their patch, you may find it is no more than that.

No, it’s more than that. I believe they’ve been ‘doing’ the area. Paying attention to dung lumps, gutter maintenance, diesel tanks etc etc.
Frank will get it easy on an off patch with no infrastructure I guess.

If they turn up here there’s going to be some pain if they’re that fussy.

 

[In the pit]

Should the landlord have said land was in an nvz or has the tenant got to find this out on his own and does it affect rental values

 

[neilo]

I have just had a phone call from the "Environment Police" that they want to do an inspection on some land that is in a NVZ.
I have been farming the land for a few years and was almost derelict. The landlord takes the BPS and didn't know about the NVZ and I have the land on a TLA.

Most of it is grass and no fertilizer is used.
The only spray was to burn off some old rough grass to plant Turnips, which were Direct drilled.

Livestock numbers have been low around one yearling beef animal to the acre.

What records do I need to "invent" to keep them happy? The spray records are fine.

It is odd that this land is in a NVZ as I have land lower down the valley which isn't in one!! It is immediately below a chicken farm and a small sewage works though.

Somebody should have a soil risk map, coloured in to show where the watercourses, drains and steep slopes are.
That's really down to the landowner I would imagine, if he's claiming to be the 'active farmer', but I'm guessing it would be worth your while helping him out?

You should be estimating the amount of N the stock produce, just to prove it's below the N max figure.

It won't need anything too onerous I'd have thought, just time consuming getting your head round it.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Hi we have been supplying software for a few years now to cover the NVZ compliance records and to present to the inspector. I would be happy to take you through this and the requirements free of charge if you wish so that I can help you produce the necessary for your inspection just get in touch regards Neil 07966212898

Neil, I am not sure I want to over complicate this! Three or four fields on this outlying block of grazing, which has no buildings, use no fertilizer and has no muck spread on it, Plus the amount of stock is mainly summer grazed and is empty from November to February. We can make the stock records correct!!

Because we have this on a TLA I guess we would have to input all of the land on your computer program to make it legitimate?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Should the landlord have said land was in an nvz or has the tenant got to find this out on his own and does it affect rental values

Just one of the many issues that arise on land that hasn't been farmed properly by anyone for years.
The landlord has taken all the payments over the years and just let it out on short term arrangements. No investment been made and as such no rent paid for the land, just keep fences up.
I guess it will be sold soon as it has a nice house and some old buildings that can be converted in time.
The land is irrelevant and apart from paddocks around the house will be a liability rather than a value.

 

[Farm Matters Ltd]

It really isn’t a bother and literally you can download the trial ( zero cost or obligation what so ever ! ) use the fields section and NVZ calculator and save as PDF for the inspector it was just a friendly thought as I know how it may reassure people to present records in an “official” manner to appease them! I am on your side I assure you ! I am always happy to help anyway so feel free to get in touch if you want cheers for now