MP HELPS KICK UP A STINK
December 14, 2007 12:00 PM
'Government plans to tackle nitrate water contamination just don't stack,' up says Nick Harvey, MP for North Devon. 'The Nitrate Vulnerable Zone consultation sees Defra proposing to cut the use of manure nitrogen by a third across 70% of our farm land.
'Ultimately these plans seem environmental madness and will cause financial harm to our dairy farmers. I am backing NFU calls for the government to see sense.
'As one local farmer, during a meeting with me and NFU reps, so bluntly put it "who's going to pay for shipping the shit?"'
'Farmers rely on natural sources of nitrates and in many cases the issue of contamination is not proven, so to insist that farmers have to store increasing quantities of slurry and/or pay to have it shipped elsewhere does not make any economical or scientific sense.
'I am currently lobbying Secretary of State Hilary Benn, on behalf of local farmers, the NFU's 'Kicking up a Stink' campaign and Dairy UK Ltd.'
Further Information:
The object of the EU Nitrates Directive is to reduce water pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources, this is to be implemented through Defra's Nitrates Vulnerable Zone Action Plan for England.
This includes reducing the amount of manure farmers can place on their land from 250kg per hectare to 170kg. Also slurry tanks will have to be able to hold up to six months of production.
These loading limits mean farmers will have to acquire more land or pay to have to slurry removed.
Research suggests that these regulation changes will cost farmers £15,800-£25,600 a year
Nick Harvey has signed up to NVZ Early Day Motion 333 which states:
'That this House notes the implementation of restrictions in nitrate vulnerable zones and expresses concern that they will lead to hardship for farmers in those zones because of the requirements for farms to have six months' storage capacity for slurry, a reduction in stock numbers and to observe a ban on spreading slurry during winter months; and calls upon the Government to take into account the additional costs and reduced income for farms that these restrictions will entail and to act to ensure that this does not become another financial blow to the farming industry.'
For more information contact:
Julie Edwards, Senior Policy Adviser, National Farmers Union: 01392 440711
or
Peter Dawson, Policy Director, Dairy UK: 0207 486 7244
'Consultation on the implementation of the Nitrates Directive in England' closed on 13 December, see:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/waterpollution-nitrates/index.htm
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