09 January, 2012

Although we have just experienced one of the mildest Decembers for several years, recent reports warn the weather is set to change as we enter 2012. Cold winter weather can bring significant challenges for farmers - one of which, currently being highlighted by the Environment Agency, is the spreading of manure and/or waste milk on waterlogged or frozen ground. The following advice has been produced by the Environment Agency to help farmers prepare for harsher weather.

Manure and other organic waste

Farmers should never apply any manure or other organic wastes to land when the soil is:

• waterlogged
• frozen hard
• snow covered
• or cracked down to field drains or backfill 

This also applies if heavy rain is forecast in the next 48 hours. The spreading of manure/other organic waste in these conditions can create a serious risk of causing pollution by run-off to rivers and streams or leaching to groundwater.

Farmers should also not spread slurries, manures and other materials with high available nitrogen content during closed periods in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). On other land, the Code of Good Agricultural Practice (CoGAP) advises not to spread unless there is a crop requirement. To do otherwise wastes valuable nutrients.   

With sufficient safe storage for slurries and manures - including dirty water - farmers should be able to cope during most winters. However, there may be occasions when we suffer exceptional weather conditions. The Environment Agency has specific advice for these conditions, including the following points; 

• In the case of prolonged extreme weather, spreading may be done following a declaration by the Agency.
• Make sure you notify the Agency in advance of any spreading that is done under a declaration. This allows them to check that your proposals are reasonable, and gives them information to help assess the overall impact of the conditions on the environment after the event.
• Take every precaution you can to avoid pollution; the responsibility is with you as a farmer, and the Agency may prosecute you if pollution does occur. 

Waste milk 

There may be times when freezing conditions make it impossible for milk to be collected, and farmers have no practical alternative but to dispose of it on their land. If you wish to spread milk on your land, you must hold a relevant exemption. However, even if you have an exemption, it does not allow you to spread on waterlogged, snow covered or frozen ground. In those circumstances, a relaxation of the rules may be allowed. 

In many cases, farmers will have already registered their exemption. If you do not already have an exemption, you can obtain one by calling the Environment Agency's National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506.   

The Centre can also provide you with advice on what to do if you are affected by extreme weather conditions, and will be able to tell you if any declarations have been made and whether they apply to the area you live in.

Of course it is also advisable to insure against the loss or non-collection of milk. Cornish Mutual can consider appropriate cover as part of their farm insurance; for further information about this cover, please contact our Member Services Team on 01872 277151.