A series of events have been planned over the next few months to address issues and concerns relating to the implementation of the Nitrates Directive.

Last week Defra announced proposals for the revision of the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) and the Action Programme that apply, with the government leaving open a period of consultation until November 13. The regulations will then come into force from spring 2008.

The events will be run by the Environment Sensitive Farming team, which is run by Adas. Dates and venues will be published at www.environmentsensitivefarming.co.uk.

Under the proposed revamp of the programme, the area of NVZs will ilncrease from 55 percent to around 70 percent of England. Defra is further considering whether to apply the programme to the whole of England.

Nitrogen applications (fertiliser N plus crop available manure N) must balance the crop N requirement allowing for soil N supply. The average nitrogen application rate across the farm for a particular crop must not exceed the maximum (Nmax) allowed rate. In potatoes for example, Nmax could be set at 270kg/ha.

Other proposals include a prohibition on the use of high trajectory, high pressure application techniques for spreading organic manures and a requirement for natural regeneration or sown cover crops where ground would otherwise be bare over winter, except following crops harvested after September 1.

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