NVZ planning now a priority to ensure compliance

With less than a year to go until the full implementation of NVZ regulations on 1 January 2012, the AMC is urging affected farmers to progress their plans with a sense of purpose to ensure full compliance and to minimize the risk of future financial penalties.

"In some cases compliance will require significant capital investment that could take months to plan and commission, and time is starting to run out," says Keith Thomas, AMC Regional Manager for Cheshire and North Midlands.

"Farm businesses should look beyond the regulatory requirements and consider how improvements can help the business in the longer term. For example, significant savings in bought in fertiliser may be one consequence of improved slurry handling and storage, so there are gains to be made if projects are well considered and properly planned.

"It is also essential that any investment takes account of how requirements could change, such as a herd’s slurry storage requirements, over a period of say 5 to10 years. Predicting livestock numbers this far in advance may not be easy, but it is essential to consider possible expansion plans or other changes to ensure your investment is future-proofed."

For those NVZ compliance projects requiring significant investment, financial planning will be an integral part of the process alongside areas such as plant design, planning permission and commissioning suppliers.

"It will be important to cost the project as accurately as possible and make any arrangements for finance early in the process," adds Keith Thomas. "Interest rates remain low for the time being, and there will be a number of finance options worthy of consideration.

"The AMC specialises in providing medium to long-term finance for significant investments such as new slurry systems, and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss the options available to farm businesses.

"Proper planning is not only about ensuring compliance with the NVZ regulations, but must also ensure that the financial burden on the business is properly managed."