The Environment Agency are relaxing regulations to help farmers during icy weather

Jan 14 2010 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

REGULATIONS on spreading milk and slurry have been relaxed to help Cheshire farmers during the big freeze.

Milk and slurry are not normally allowed to be spread on frozen ground, due to the high risk of water pollution, but the Environment Agency will be taking a more flexible approach to help farmers who have run out of storage options. Milk can cause more harm than sewage if it flows into rivers.

Snow and icy conditions have prevented tankers from completing their usual milk collections, causing some farmers to have to stockpile milk on farms. Slurry storage is also under pressure in some places.

The Environment Agency stressed it was issuing the guidance to reduce the risk of pollution from overflowing storage tanks and would apply only until milk collections returned to normal.

To help farmers get through the exceptional weather conditions, the Environment Agency will allow farmers, whose slurry storage is at, or near to capacity, to spread slurry and waste milk on snow-covered or frozen soil.

Farmers who are facing storage difficulties are urged to contact the local Environment Agency office or the helpline on 08708 506506.