Strong political pressure needed to change NVZ proposals

Defra is currently thinking of placing wholly unnecessary financial and bureaucratic burdens on Cumbrian farms that fall within Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs).

If left unchallenged, the county's farmers (who have land in these areas) will be stopped from spreading slurry or fertiliser between the months of October and January (varying dependent on rain fall and soil type). These farmers will also be forced to have five months minimum slurry storage. However, many currently fall drastically short of this capacity.

NFU Cumbrian County Chairman, Trevor Wilson, said: "This is a serious issue for farmers which is silently creeping up on them behind the shadows of bluetongue disease and Foot and Mouth. Farmers need to realise the gravity of this situation. How much it costs their business will ultimately be determined by how strongly they lobby."

NFU 's dairy board chairman, Mike Taylor of Russell Farm in Carnforth added: "Under these proposals I'd need 20 weeks worth of slurry storage which in real terms would mean two new slurry tanks at a cost of £35,000 a piece and there are a lot of Cumbrian farming businesses that just don't have that kind of money."

The onerous proposals are open to consultation until 13 December due to the deadline being extended by a month as part of the Government's recent foot and mouth disease aid package.

NFU North West's environment policy adviser, Helen Little, said: "The NFU has organised a meeting in Cumbrian to help members fully understand the proposals and more importantly advise them on the best ways to apply strong political pressure. This pressure is vital if the industry is to have any chance of persuading Defra to make changes to the proposals."

Meeting date and venue (the meeting starts at 7.30pm)

· The Hired Lad in Penrith on Thursday 01 November.