The Farmers’ Union of Wales has ensured that issues concerning changes to Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) remain at the forefront of politician’s minds.
Arfon MP, Liz Saville-Roberts and Mabon ap Gwynfor MS grasped the opportunity to visit Chwilog farm Mur Clwt Lloer - farmed by Caernarfonshire FUW Chairman, John Hughes - to see the potential issues first hand.
John farms the 75 hectare farm which is all laid out to pasture in partnership with his father William Hughes and wife, Sian. Currently, they raise 120 replacement dairy heifers for a large dairy herd nearby.
Under current NVZ regulations in other UK and EU Nations and previous regulations covering 2.4 % of land in Wales, farmers with more than 80% of their holding designated as grassland have the ability to apply for a derogation to increase the annual livestock manure nitrate whole farm limit from 170kg N per ha to 250kg N per ha.