Waste milk and slurry rules relaxed
Worcester News - 6:30pm Monday 11th January 2010
Dairy farmers are being allowed to dump waste milk on their land say industry regulaters, following the bad weather.
Farmers are usually barred from pouring away slurry and excess milk because of the pollution risk.
But because of the cold weather, tankers have been unable to get to some farms and remove stocks prompting the Environment Agency to relax its rules.
Farms where milk and slurry storage is at or near capacity will be allowed to spread on snow covered or frozen soil.
This would normally breach pollution and waste regulations but the agency said no action would be taken if:
- action to be taken to prevent storage overflowing,
- there is no alternative temporary storage available - such as at a neighbours farm,
- there are no other environmentally acceptable options for disposal,
- the activity is unlikely to result in pollution.
Farmers who are facing storage difficulties - or want advice on dealing and surplus milk supplies - are urged to contact their local Environment Agency office for guidance or call the Environment Agency's helpline on 08708 506 506.
David Jordan, agency operations director, said: "This is a really tough time for farmers "We want to do what we can to help."
