The Government has announced steps which it says will assist farmers with the availability of fertilisers to address uncertainty and keep costs down for farmers and growers.
Environment Secretary George Eustice announced that changes to the use of urea fertiliser will be delayed by at least a year to help farmers manage their costs and give them more time to adapt. Defra has also published revised and improved statutory guidance has been published on how farmers should limit the use of slurry and other farmyard manure at certain times of year, as well as new grants for slurry storage, and support for growing legumes in the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
George Eustice, said, “The significant rise in the cost of fertiliser is a reminder that we need to reduce our dependence on manufacturing processes dependent on gas. Many of the challenges we face in agriculture will require a fusion of new technology with conventional principles of good farm husbandry. The measures we have announced today are not the whole solution but will help farmers manage their nitrogen needs in the year ahead.”
Responding to the announcement, NFU President Minette Batters commented, “Farmers are experiencing unprecedented costs when buying fertiliser, alongside tightening supplies, and it’s critical that government put in place measures to mitigate some of these effects.
“Many of the measures today, particularly around the industry-led regulation of urea, and the updated guidance on the Farming Rules for Water which will allow autumn manure spreading, and the extension of Defra’s Market Monitoring Group to understand trends in the market, are positive for farmers. This is what the NFU has been asking for and I’d like to thank government for making these changes.
“We will look at the guidance closely and we are continuing to engage with government on the importance of fertiliser and about ways it can ensure stability and confidence in the food supply chain.”
Photo source: Defra