Following the recent cold weather, Environment Agency Wales is advising farmers to plan manure spreading activities carefully.
Following the recent cold weather, Environment Agency Wales is advising farmers to plan manure spreading activities carefully. The amount of run-off can substantially increase during cold periods where fields have frozen, leading to runoff and pollution of watercourses. Farmers are advised to ensure that field conditions are suitable for spreading manures , this will help prevent problems from arising.
Loss of soil, slurry and manure from fields into watercourses will have an impact on water quality causing problems for fisheries, local wildlife and downstream users.
Farmers can:
~ Prioritise spreading – choosing the most suitable fields first;
~ Check the field before spreading for any problems with frozen soils;
~ When spreading manures and slurries:
~ Avoid fields on sloping ground;
~ Keep application rates low – less than 4500 gallons per acre;
~ Remember to leave a 20 metre buffer strip along rivers.
Before considering any field work, farmers should pay attention to the weather forecast as heavy frost and rainfall can lead to a greater risk of incidents occurring.
