Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000: The Water Code (Jersey) 2009: Application of Slurry to Agricultural Land: Closed Period Dates

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A decision made 10 May 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2013-0049
Decision Summary Title:	Water Code (Jersey) 2009		Date of Decision Summary:	May 1st 2013
Decision Summary Author (Job Title):	The Rural Economy Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title:	Amendment to the ‘closed period’ dates for the application of slurry to agricultural land.		Date of Written Report:
Written Report Author (Job Title):	The Rural Economy Manager		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: The Water Code (Jersey) 2009, which is an approved Code under the Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000, sets the closed period dates for the application of slurry to agricultural land in order to safeguard controlled waters in Jersey. The amended dates for the closed period will be from 14th October to 13th January each year.
Decision(s): The Minister to approve the amended dates in the Water Code (Jersey) 2009.
Reason(s) for Decision: The dairy industry requested and gained an amendment to the ‘closed period’ for the application of slurry to agricultural land to take account of the very wet weather experienced in 2012. In 2014 the Water Code is due to be re negotiated in the meantime the industry has asked that the dates should be re -set to take into account the growing season, the risk in relation to water pollution and farmer working preferences. The proposed dates are from 14th October to 13th January (3 months). This decision will not alter the ‘closed period’ for the application of inorganic fertilisers to agricultural land which will remain from 1st October to 31st December each year.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: Approval of the Minister to amend the 3 month closed period for the application of slurry to agricultural land identified in the Water Code (Jersey) 2009 to 14th October to 13th January each year.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000: The Water Code (Jersey) 2009: Application of Slurry to Agricultural Land: Closed Period Dates

Department of the Environment

Amendments to the Water Code (Jersey) 2009 to alter the ‘closed period’ dates for the application of slurry to agricultural land.

Purpose of the report

To amend the 3 month closed period for the application of slurry to agricultural land to 14th October to 13th January each year.

Background

The Water Code (Jersey) 2009 is an approved Code under the Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000 designed to ensure the agricultural industry follows good agricultural practice in relation to the protection of the island’s controlled waters.

The original dates for the closed period in the 2009 code were 1st October to 31st December.

An approach by the industry after the wet weather during the summer of 2012 led to a change in the dates being agreed to allow them to take advantage of the better soil conditions in October and also gave them longer to empty their stores before the closed period commenced.

However, this was an extraordinary year so it is now further proposed that the dates be re-set to have the closed period from the 14th October to the 13th January each year.

Discussion

The Water Code (Jersey) 2009, which is an approved Code under the Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000, sets the closed period dates for the application of slurry to agricultural land in order to safeguard controlled waters in Jersey.

The original dates for the closed period in the 2009 code were 1st October to 31st December, the amended 2012 dates were 25th October to 24th January. The mild weather and firmer soil conditions experienced in October are more favourable for spreading slurry than the adverse conditions in early January because plant growth will take up the nutrients applied because of the extended growing season and in addition machinery will do less damage to soil structure. It is also preferable operationally to many farmers to be permitted to spread during early October and late January before potatoes are planted.

The new amended dates, agreed with the industry, for the closed period are requested to be from 14th October to 13th January each year. This decision will not alter the ‘closed period’ for the application of inorganic fertilisers to agricultural land which will remain from 1st October to 31st December each year.

The Water Code (Jersey) 2009 is due for renewal in 2014 and will be subject to a industry consultation process.

Recommendation

The Minister agrees that the Water Code (Jersey) 2009 is amended to include dates for the ‘closed period’ for the application slurry to agricultural land from 14th October to 13th January each year.

Written by:- The Rural Economy Manager

Approved by:- Director of Environment