Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has welcomed a commitment from the government to give greater clarity to farmers about muckspreading. The Committee had written a letter to the Minister for Farming, Fisheries and Food, Victoria Prentis MP, saying there was significant confusion among farmers about rules set by the Environment Agency on when they could spread organic matter.
The Environment Agency said the rules were aimed at preventing pollution of water courses. However, some farmers’ representatives told the Committee the rules meant farmers could not fertilise their fields at traditional times, such as in Autumn for Spring crops.
Victoria Prentis MP has now replied to the Committee confirming that greater clarity would be given on what farming practices are, and are not, acceptable. She said this guidance would be urgently provided so farmers can plan for the year ahead.
Chair of the EFRA Committee Neil Parish MP said:
“We welcome the letter from the Minister and the sense of urgency she said would now be applied to this problem.
“The Government now need to deliver on this promise and promptly produce guidance which meets the needs of farmers and the environment and gives farmers the certainty they need to be able to incorporate good organic matter into the soil.”
Dr Neil Hudson MP for Penrith and The Border and Member of the EFRA Committee said:
“Our cross party EFRA Committee has been working hard with rural stakeholders to get clarity on the difficult situation that has arisen around the Environment Agency’s current interpretation of Farming Rules for Water. We welcome that the Farming Minister recognises that this problem needs to be addressed urgently. I am continuing to urge the Government to act quickly so that the controversy surrounding the interpretation of farm muck spreading guidance can be ended. That way farmers can plan ahead to manage their land practically and without any unnecessary worry.”
