FUW calls for flexibility as autumn slurry restrictions loom
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is calling for greater flexibility around slurry spreading as the autumn closed period fast approaches. This again re-states the strong view of the FUW that agricultural pollution regulatory requirements should reflect weather, soil and crop conditions rather than simply following fixed calendar dates.
For the majority of grassland soils in Wales, the closed period for spreading organic manures with high readily available nitrogen such as slurry and poultry manure applies from 15 October to 15 January.
Launching its briefing and policy position paper at the Usk Show on Saturday 12 September, the FUW is setting out its clear priorities and the urgent need for reform of the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021.
The FUW supports action to improve water quality but says the current rules place significant financial, practical and administrative pressures on farmers and do not reflect the diversity of Welsh farming.
Speaking from the Usk Show, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “We are reiterating our calls for a more targeted, proportionate and risk-based approach, including greater flexibility around slurry spreading, a review of the 170kg per hectare nitrogen limit and simpler record-keeping requirements.
“We maintain our view that regulatory efforts should focus on genuine environmental risk, rather than placing disproportionate emphasis on paperwork. Data set out in our briefing, sourced from Natural Resources Wales, demonstrates that a significant proportion of non-compliances relate to administrative and record-keeping requirements rather than confirmed pollution incidents or environmental harm.”
The FUW's revised briefing follows the independent review of the regulations conducted by Dr Susannah Bolton, which recommended exploring greater flexibility, including alternatives to fixed closed periods, reviewing nitrogen limits and simplifying administration.
“If this year has shown us anything, it is that we cannot farm by calendar alone. With farmers struggling with fodder availability following an exceptionally dry season, farm businesses across Wales will be grazing, spreading slurry and taking cuts of silage much later than planned for as long as the weather allows. We seek support from the Welsh Government by providing a blanket derogation for the start of the closed period to allow farmers to appropriately apply nutrients and take silage crops before the winter period.”
The FUW is urging the Welsh Government to work with the farming industry on immediate measures and a revised regulatory framework that protects water quality while supporting viable family farms and sustainable food production.
The FUW Briefing & Policy Position Paper on The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 is available here: https://fuw.org.uk/images/2026/09/WaterRegsbrochure-English-FINAL.pdf
