DairyCo

NVZ Rules

Key requirements of the NVZ rules

The updated NVZ regulations were applied across the UK from 1 Jan 2009. The regulations cover 68% of England, 15% of Scotland and 4% of Wales. They have subtle differences in each country and the specific regulations should always be referred to when putting actions in place on farm.

In order to allow farms to adapt their businesses and comply fully there are various dates by which different aspects of the regulations will come into force. These will also differ if you are in an NVZ for the first time this year and there is a lag time of one year for many of the specific rules for these farms. However, all the regulations then come fully into force on all farms on 1 January 2012.

 The key measures included in the new NVZ rules include:

• Livestock manure N farm limit: A loading limit of 170 kg/ha of total N from livestock manures (deposited during grazing and by spreading) per calendar year, averaged across the farmed area. This is calculated by using standard nitrogen production figures for animals on your holding throughout the year.
• Organic manure N field limit: A spreading limit of 250 kg/ha of total N establishes a maximum application rate for organic manures - this will be based on a rolling year. This can be calculated from standard figures of different manures or by accurate samples undertaken by specific protocols outlined in the regulations. For example a typical dairy slurry containing 3kg N/m³ will allow 83m³ to be spread in any one rolling year.   
• Closed period (organic manures): This prohibits the spreading of organic manures with high available nitrogen content (e.g. slurry, poultry manure) during specified periods. The length of the closed period is highlighted below.
• Closed period (manufactured nitrogen fertilisers): This prohibits the spreading of manufactured nitrogen fertiliser during specified periods unless there is a crop nitrogen requirement.

**Scotland end date is 20 February in some regions

 *If crop sown before 15 Sept - applications permitted 1 Aug → 15 Sept

• Manure storage capacity: Farms must provide sufficient storage facilities to store all slurry produced by livestock during a period of 6 months for pigs (1 October to 1 April) and 5 months for cattle (1 October to 1 March), and to store all poultry manure produced during a period of 6 months.    

These calculations must use standard production figures for excreta and standard water usage and rainfall data - DairyCo's Dairy Wizard will help with these calculations - see below. 

• Spreading locations: Farmers will have to undertake a written assessment to identify areas of land at risk of runoff and causing water pollution. It will highlight areas of the farm which are no spread zones - i.e. within 10m of a watercourse or 50m of a well, spring or borehole, and high risk areas such as those with steep slopes.
• Spreading techniques: The use of high trajectory application techniques that spread slurry more than 4m above the ground will not be allowed after 1 Jan 2012. High trajectory spreading techniques are already banned from 1 July 2009 in Scotland NVZ areas. Additionally, applications of organic manure to bare soil or stubble will require incorporation into the soil in certain situations and these differ according to region. 

In England - any applications carried out with a splash plate tanker must be incorporated within 24 hours, the use of injection and ground application techniques such as trailing shoe/hose will remove this requirement.  

• Nmax: This is a defined limit of nitrogen application for different crops from manufactured nitrogen fertiliser and crop available nitrogen from livestock manure. The limit differs for various crop types and applies to the average application rate across the whole farm. If your field records demonstrate that you have kept below these limits then a separate full record is not required.
• Record-keeping: The requirement to keep a record of all N applications to land will allow compliance checking, as will records of livestock numbers kept on the holding. Records to keep include:
• Calculation of whole farm limit
• Calculation of slurry storage requirement
• Planned and actual use of nitrogen from manures and manufactured sources
• Details of any import/exports of organic manures
• Updated risk map
• Nmax calculations if required

Records should be kept for a minimum of five years

The Environment Agency will be responsible for assessing farmers' compliance with the NVZ rules. They will do this by visiting farms; part of the visit will include a walk around the farm and an inspection of field records.