Formal meeting (oral evidence session): Farming rules for water

Purpose of the session

Water pollution is a serious and growing concern. However, the Committee has been told by farmers and the water industry that the government body responsible for implementing the regulations, the Environment Agency (EA), is interpreting the rules in a way that prevents farmers from the traditional spreading of manure in autumn for a spring crop and may be causing other forms of environmental damage.

However, the EA has previously told the Committee that there is nothing in its interpretation “that stops autumn application of appropriate organic fertilisers”.

Given the ongoing disagreement, the Committee will hear from both sides in a public evidence session and seek to identify how farming and environmental concerns can both be addressed.