The written statement from the Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths MS signals a short extension of the implementation of the 170kg/ha annual holding nitrogen limit.
Consultation on a licensing scheme
The extension is accompanied by a consultation on a licensing scheme that would enable any farm business to apply for a licence for a higher annual holding nitrogen limit of 250kg/ha subject to crop need and other legal considerations.
The consultation will consult on proposals for such a scheme to be operational until 2025.
Welsh Government has also committed to carry out a dedicated impact assessment on the economic and environmental impact of the 170kg/ha nitrogen limit, as well as committing to explore alternative technological solutions.
'Breathing space'
NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “Today’s announcement of the delay of the 170kg/ha annual holding organic nitrogen limit and news of a consultation this autumn on a licensing scheme to operate until 2025 is welcome. The announcement provides some additional breathing space for Welsh farmers facing the prospect of destocking their herds as a direct result of the regulations as they stood.
🚜 BREAKING NEWS ON NVZs pic.twitter.com/5e4kSiI4pu
— Llyr Gruffydd AS/MS (@LlyrGruffydd) October 5, 2022
“NFU Cymru has long believed that these regulations are unworkable and pose a significant threat to the viability of Welsh farming, the overall impact of which cannot be overestimated. For this reason, NFU Cymru has consistently opposed these regulations and has left no stone unturned in seeking to make these regulations more proportionate, including taking the matter to Judicial Review.
'Real concerns'
“The union is pleased that through the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, the government has listened to the very real concerns of Welsh farmers and has shown some recognition of the impacts that the regulations, in their original form, will have on Welsh farming’s viability and the knock-on impact on the supply chain.
The licensing component now being consulted on by government gives all interested parties more time to find a fit for purpose, evidence-based solution that delivers the outcomes for water quality that we all wish to see, alongside a thriving Welsh agricultural sector.
Funding
“NFU Cymru commends the fact that an extra £20m of funding has been made available as part of today’s announcement. It is crucial that this funding is used to support capital investment in infrastructure on farm, given that the government’s own impact assessment highlighted a £360m upfront cost to comply with these regulations.
“The union is grateful for the important work that has taken place between Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government as part of the co-operation agreement that has led to today’s written statement and the opportunity it now offers for more proportionate regulations in Wales.”
- Read the Welsh Government written statement (5 October)
- NFU Cymru's short briefing
- Read our response to the inquiry on the impact of the Welsh Government’s Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021
