frederick
Member
- Location
- south west
We really are our own worst enemy sometimes. I have just heard of an umbilical running until 4 am this morning so they could get as much slurry out as possible before todays torrential rain hits.
Perhaps we deserve everything the EA throws at us
- Thread starter frederick
- Start date
Slippery Slope
Member
Do we? Or does he/she?
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Silly buggers, should have spread it in the lovely dry conditions we had in January, oh hang on a minute...
Isn't the rules that we can't spread in January because the calendar says no?
frederick
Member
- Location
- south west
I don't have a huge issue with spreading yesterday if conditions allow and pack up at 5 and maybe hope for the best.
This however is acknowledgement that the weather is going to be rubbish so let's run all night and not give it any chance to soak in.
Unfortunately we are regulated to deal with the lowest common denominator.
- Location
- Devon
It does sound like very poor practice.
But with the EA saying that farmers must go long periods without spreading even if conditions are perfect and can then only spread if there is no alternative however poor conditions are, aren't the EA getting the results that are inevitable?
But with the EA saying that farmers must go long periods without spreading even if conditions are perfect and can then only spread if there is no alternative however poor conditions are, aren't the EA getting the results that are inevitable?
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
I do agree with you which is why I am yet to spread a single drop of slurry myself (although the tanker is booked for next week), but I can also see it from the farmer's POV, his pit would have overflown if he didn't get it out because the EA have imposed stupid restrictions on when he can or can't spread according to calendar instead of weather: when in farming, a calendar has f*ck all relevance in reality
I would have more respect if the EA had said "look we want to stop water pollution by stopping you from spreading x number of months and only when the weather allows, in order to do that how much more pit space do you need and we will fund the extra" but instead they have created this legislation and told farmers to deal with it, even though they are the ones who want the results not the farmers.
Slippery Slope
Member
What makes you think that I as a farmer would not want the results (ie less pollution) and why should the environment agency pay for farmer x’s slurry storage when farmer y has already invested to stay compliant??
Not saying I don’t like your idea
but I can’t see it washing with the tax payers!
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
Presumably a contractor?
They will be under increased pressures too with the available days to spread in a year getting more restricted.
Rules and regs introduced with good intentions could well be having counter productive consequences
- Location
- cornwall
So what? Water companies just let it straight into the river when it’s pouring with rain, why are we not allowed to do that?
- Location
- Essex
Aren't they planning grants to improve slurry storage to alleviate the need to spread at the wrong time?
Even so, with fertiliser at current prices (or any price) surely you wouldn't want any slurry to be spread unless it was going to be fully used buy the growing crop?
BELOWAVERAGE
Member
Since when has farming been a nine to five job ? Unbelievable
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
The water companies are very much in the wrong with it seems no desire to change.
Farmers are between a rock and a hard place, plenty of regulations and restrictions to abide by yet have to pick a way between the growing cycle of crops and the unpredictability of the weather as well. Getting it right every time ain’t allways easy.