The Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018, also known as the Farming Rules for Water, are a set of regulations implemented in England with the aim of reducing and preventing diffuse pollution from agricultural activities. The regulations require farmers and other land managers to take specific measures to prevent or reduce the risk of pollution from agricultural activities, including:
- Implementing a nutrient management plan, which sets out how farmers will manage the use of fertilizers and other nutrients on their land to reduce the risk of pollution.
- Implementing a soil management plan, which sets out how farmers will manage soil erosion and other issues that can contribute to diffuse pollution.
- Implementing a pest management plan, which sets out how farmers will control pests and diseases in a way that reduces the risk of pollution.
The regulations also include provisions for the monitoring and reporting of diffuse pollution, and for the enforcement of the regulations by local authorities. The regulations are part of a broader effort in the UK to reduce agricultural pollution and protect the country’s water resources.
Anaerobic Digestate
The Regulations include specific requirements for the spreading of anaerobic digestate. Farmers and other land managers who spread anaerobic digestate on their land must do so in a way that reduces the risk of diffuse pollution. This may include:
- Spreading the digestate at the right time of the year to avoid runoff during heavy rains
- Spreading the digestate at the right rate to avoid over-application
- Spreading the digestate on appropriate fields and avoiding fields that are susceptible to erosion or are near water bodies
- Incorporating the digestate into the soil as soon as possible after spreading
- Monitoring the quality of the digestate before spreading to ensure it is free from pollutants
In addition, farmers and other land managers are required to keep records of their anaerobic digestate spreading activities, including the quantity and quality of the digestate, the fields where it was spread, and the dates of application. These records must be made available to the local authorities upon request.
In summary, these regulations affect the spreading of anaerobic digestate by establishing guidelines for farmers and other land managers to follow in order to reduce the risk of diffuse pollution from the spreading of anaerobic digestate.
