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Contact our offices

Main office

COLBURN
5 & 6 BAILEY COURT
COLBURN BUSINESS PARK
RICHMOND
NORTH YORKSHIRE
DL9 4QL

01748 897 630

Estate Agency Offices are located in

BARNARD CASTLE, BOROUGHBRIDGE & RICHMOND

Residential Management Team

01748 829210

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) – Grassland Derogation

If you fall within an NVZ, regulations limit the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure which can be applied across the farm to 170 kg per hectare per year.

However, the UK Government has successfully negotiated with the European Commission for derogation to a higher limit to allow intensive grassland farmers more time to adapt their land management.

Therefore, if you are an intensive grassland farmer you may be eligible to apply for grassland derogation to allow you to farm up to a limit of 250 kg of manure per hectare per year from grazing livestock on your farm.

To be eligible to apply, you must ensure that at least 80% of your agricultural area of your farm is grass throughout the year and that the total loading in livestock manure to your farm does not exceed the following:

  • 250 kg of nitrogen per hectare from grazing livestock
  • 170kg of nitrogen per hectare for non grazing livestock

A derogation needs to be applied for each year and if approved you will have to comply with additional requirements over and above the existing NVZ rules; for example, one requirement is a submission of fertiliser accounts.

Applications for 2012 derogations can be made between 1st October 2011 and 31st December 2011.

Should you wish to discuss how GSC Grays can help you apply for your grassland derogation please contact Lucinda Clifford on 01833 637000.

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