Nitrates - Government rejects cover crops option and will seek derogation on load limit

Defra today published its response to the consultation on measures to implement the Nitrates Directive.

The key points are:

* England will continue to designate Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) on a selective basis, based on scientific evidence, rather than adopt the whole territory approach of some Member States. Following the recent review, about 70 per cent of England needs to be designated - up from 55 per cent - and around 1.5 per cent of areas will be de-designated;

* The proposal for cover crops to reduce run-off from bare ground has been dropped;

* The Government will pursue a derogation from the European Commission on the 170 kg/ha whole farm nitrogen loading limit;

* Closed periods and storage capacity will remain as set out in the consultation, but there will be transitional arrangements for meeting the requirements. Further work will be undertaken to assess whether the risk of nitrate loss in winter months extends to January;

* A package of advice will be provided, including workshops and a helpline, to support farmers in making changes. Slurry storage facilities will be eligible for tax allowances on capital costs up to #50,000 per year;

* Maps of NVZs and guidance on the Action programme measures will be published alongside the Regulations in September;

* Defra is now developing plans for appeals against designation.

Further details will be published in due course.

Environment Minister Phil Woolas said:

"There were over six hundred responses to our consultation. We have listened carefully to what people had to say and have worked hard to achieve the best possible outcome - to protect the water environment, meet our legal obligations, and address farmers'

practical concerns as far as possible.

"Agriculture is responsible for around 60% of nitrate pollution in water, and there are pressing reasons for reducing that - biodiversity, recreation, and the cost of producing clean drinking water among them. At the same time we recognise that this places responsibilities, and costs, on farmers.

"There are several sources of help available. The Treasury has confirmed that slurry storage facilities are eligible for plant and machinery tax allowances on capital costs up to #50,000 a year. We have committed funding of #98 million under the Rural Development Programme for, among other things, the livestock sector's on-farm management of nutrients. We have also extended the capital grants scheme under the Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative for another years.

"I am keen to pursue innovative solutions for manure management like anaerobic digestion. I met a wide cross section of industry and NGO senior executives last week to discuss ways of increasing take up of anaerobic digestion, and the role it can play in nitrates management was part of that discussion. I have promised to look in detail at the barriers that might exist to making anaerobic digestion a viable option for farmers."

An updated Code of Good Agricultural Practice will be published later this year when the Regulations are laid.