Farmers across Wales will be able to spread slurry until November after the Welsh Government extended the usual timeframe.

The farming sector and Natural Resources Wales have reported that the dry weather significantly reduced grass growth throughout the summer, disrupting normal cutting and grazing patterns and leaving many farms unable to spread slurry as they normally would.

This has led to concerns that slurry storage levels are higher than normal heading into the autumn.

In response to this, the Welsh Government will bring forward legislation amending the closed period for spreading slurry and manure, during which farmers are restricted from applying it to land, for all soil and land types, with spreading permitted up to 15 November 2026.

Natural Resources Wales and farming unions have welcomed the move, with a river trust warning it must not increase the pollution risk to rivers.

NRW’s Regulatory Policy and Approaches Manager Eirian Macdonald explained: “This has been an exceptional year for farmers across Wales, and we recognise that many have needed to provide supplementary feed to livestock and house stock in high temperatures to enable access to sufficient feed and water. This has increased slurry production at a time when slurry spreading has been reduced due to dry soils, no crop growth and lower nutrient need. We support this temporary measure introduced by the Welsh Government as it provides additional flexibility, while helping to reduce the risk of slurry storage capacity issues later in the year.”

NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “NFU Cymru is pleased that the Cabinet Minister has listened to the challenges faced by farmers this summer and taken positive, proactive action to address the industry’s heightened concerns headed into what is likely to be a difficult winter.

“The announcement of an extension to the closed periods, therefore, will come as a welcome relief to the nation’s farmers, many of whom have a shortage of winter feed and had concerns over entering the winter with slurry storage near capacity.

FUW President Ian Rickman said: “The announcement by the Welsh Government will provide welcome relief to farmers across Wales following what has been an extremely challenging season for farming businesses.”

Afonydd Cymru warned however: “Last winter there were numerous reports of spreading activity during the closed period and in conflict with these other regulatory requirements to protect rivers, especially in West Wales.

“So, as always, whether or not this decision threatens Welsh rivers depends on the capacity and will of Natural Resources Wales’s enforcement function.

“While the regulator has stepped up its agricultural inspections in recent years, high risk areas are still not being prioritised and enforcement presence on the ground is low. Welsh Government must provide additional and rapid support to the regulator to ensure this is in place for the extended spreading period.

“If pollution continues to occur from slurry spreading, especially if it happens during the spreading extension period, there will be serious questions for the regulator and Welsh Government to answer.”