Policy paper: Farming rules for water from April 2018

This publication sets out the new ‘farming rules for water’ we will be introducing from 2 April 2018 for all farmers in England. We have published a simple overview factsheet, together with full details of the rules.

The rules will 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 have separately published a summary of the responses we received.