NFU demands action over NVZ plans

THERE should be 'substantial' alterations to Defra's proposals to change Nitrate Vulnerable Zones before they are implemented, the NFU has warned.

The union has claimed the proposals would cost farmers an estimated hundreds of millions of pounds while doing little to improve the environment. They would also cause other environmental problems, such as increased risks to soils, air and water of applying manures in the late winter and spring, and an increase in carbon dioxide emissions resulting from compulsory sown cover crops.

NFU vice-president Paul Temple said they had argued for a long time that the EU Nitrate Directive was outdated. "I can think of few people who would regard changes that will cost farmers £240 million of slurry storage for a 0.5 to 1 per cent reduction in nitrate leaching as rational or good value for money.

"Many of the proposals in the Directive are already being, or could be better, achieved using other legislation including the Water Framework Directive and Environmental Stewardship schemes."