Farming Rules for Water (FRfW)
RULE 1, Nutrient Management Planning requires that;
- a) application of organic manures and manufactured fertilisers to cultivated land must be planned in advance to meet soil and crop nutrient needs and to not exceed these levels
- b) soil testing must be carried out for Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, pH and Nitrogen levels at least every 5 years, for cultivated land.
Additionally the Recommendations include:
BEEF & LAMB/DAIRY/PIGS/POULTRY Do not build soil phosphorus beyond target indices. Where soil nutrient indices are higher than target levels, consider undertaking a farmgate nutrient balance to identify opportunities to bring the farm into nutrient balance (e.g. exporting surplus manures or reducing bought in feeds).
COMBINABLE CROPS/HORTICULTURE Do not build soil phosphorus beyond target indices.
POTATOES Do not build soil phosphorus beyond target indices and ensure that total phosphorus inputs do not exceed the amounts removed in crops during the rotation
3b
RULE 2 Manure storage requires that organic manures are not stored on land: within 10m of surface waters; where there is significant risk of run off entering a surface water; within 50m of a spring, well or borehole.
RULE 3 Conditions for Manure Applications requires that organic manures are not applied: if the soil is waterlogged, flooded, or snow covered; if the soil has been frozen for more than 12 hours in the previous 24 hours; if there is significant risk of causing environmental pollution from soil erosion and run off
RULE 4 Location of Manure Applications requires that organic manures are not applied: within 10m of any surface water, or if precision equipment is used, wihin 6m of surface water; within 50m of a spring, well or borehole
3c
RULE 6, Soil Erosion and Run Off requires farmers to minimise erosion by taking reasonable precautions. This includes planning to establish green cover by 15th October. If this isn’t planned farmer should have ‘appropriate justifications’. Land managers must ‘take into account that the correct crop for the inherent field risk has been planted and that pollution risks from the activity have been minimised by taking appropriate steps to minimise soil pollution’.
NOTE Whilst there is alignment between FRfW Rule 6 (below) and the Recommended Key Practice, it is expected that support and guidance for producers to assess field risks and take effective measures to reduce them could improve compliance with this rule and reduce soil loss over winter
The recommendations also include:
BEEF & LAMB For winter-grazed brassica crops, reduce the risk of run off by only growing on appropriate fields. Manage the grazing to prevent run-off (e.g graze from the top of a sloping field). Preferably avoid root crops which leave the soil bare when grazed and instead use leafy brassicas and other species, grazing them rotationally to allow regrowth to keep soil protected.
COMBINABLE CROPS If arable farms offer winter grazing to other farms (e.g tack sheep), where winter-grazed brassica crops are grown, reduce the risk of run-off by only growing on appropriate fields. Manage the grazing to prevent run-off (e.g graze from the top of a sloping field). Preferably avoid root crops which leave the soil bare when grazed and instead use leafy brassicas and other species, grazing them rotationally to allow regrowth to keep soil protected.
