FARMERS in swamped Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in Scotland have been given a stay of execution by the Scottish Government to empty over-flowing slurry tanks.

The deadline for emptying tanks expired last weekend meaning that if they spread slurry into NVZ designated land they face large cross compliance penalties

The problem is particularly acute in South-west Scotland as highlighted by The Scottish Farmer last week. Now the government has had a change of heart with a new deadline of the end of November.

It says it will look sympathetically at cases of NVZ where horrendous weather has stopped many farmers from spreading their slurry in time.

The decision to grant leniency will be made on a case by case basis as to whether derogation will be granted to those who have missed the deadline. In order to be accepted the farmer has to sign-up to five conditions at their local RPID area office.

The main conditions are that application should only be made to land that is regarded as low risk and on fields that are flat or less than 5% slope. They must not known to be waterlogged at this time of year, and have no watercourses or ditches as boundaries. All applications should be recorded in NVZ records.

NFUS vice-president Gary Mitchell who farms on the outskirts of Stranraer signed-up to the move this week .He told The Scottish Farmer : “At last common-sense has prevailed. Slurry is a valuable fertiliser, and the whole issue of NVZ’s needs to be looked at.

“Rainfall records for Dumfries and Galloway are going higher and higher every year. Between 2006 and 2016 the figure has soared by 33%.

“I also think it’s time we had an industry summit on the issue of slurry, and that the government should take a close look at changing the NVZ rules given the weather conditions we are getting on a regular basis at this time of year.

Union president Andrew McCornick said: “The summer and autumn periods have been extremely challenging for members due the unexpected extent of the poor weather.

“The prospect of going into the closed period with slurry tanks nearly full is not something that our members, ourselves or, thankfully, the Scottish Government want.

“We welcome the movement from the Scottish Government following on from extensive discussions with us on the seriousness of the situation and the desperate need for derogation to a number of farmers.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “There is no doubt that many parts of Scotland have experienced extremely challenging weather conditions this year, which has caused significant problems for farmers and crofters, including those in the Stranraer NVZ area.

“While a blanket derogation from the NVZ (Scotland) provisions cannot be applied due to European Commission regulatory requirements, relevant Rural Payments Inspection Directorate offices will liaise with affected farmers on a case by case basis to help them explore all practical options, which might be available to address current difficulties.

“RPID will look sympathetically, with as much flexibility as the regulations allow, at the scope for any mitigation of the risk of penalties being applied”.