Updated: We have removed the overview of the rules, now that we have published detailed guidance on how to comply with the rules.
This publication sets out full details of the new ‘farming rules for water’ from 2 April 2018 for all farmers in England.
We published detailed guidance on the rules on 2 April 2018. The formal rules, the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018 came into effect on that date.
The rules require good farming practice, so that farmers manage their land both to avoid water pollution and to benefit their business. They provide a step by step checklist to make sure that fertilisers are spread to meet crop and soil needs. Other rules safeguard water quality by requiring farmers to judge when it is best to apply fertilisers, where to store manures and how to avoid pollution from soil erosion.
We consulted on the proposed rules in 2015 and published a summary of the responses we received.
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