TIME is running out for Welsh farmers to have their say on the potential impact of the all-Wales nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs).

The new all-Wales regulations came into force across the whole of Wales on April 1 and are being phased in over three-and-a-half years. It means farmers now face tougher rules on the storage and spread of slurry. Previously, only 2.4 per cent of the land area of Wales was designated as NVZs.

A motion to annul the government’s regulations was narrowly defeated in the Senedd at the beginning of March, but, as a result of the challenge from Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives, the economy, trade and rural affairs committee launched a review of the potential implications in June.

The deadline for submissions to that process is September 10 (Friday), with both major Welsh farming bodies the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) and NFU Cymru vocal in its opposition to the new restrictions.

They have warned that the decision will make many small family farms unviable. The government’s own assessments suggest the cost to farmers could be anything from £109m to £360m.

FUW vice president Dai Miles said: “We sincerely hope that the review will take into full consideration the financial implications these regulations have on small and medium sized farm businesses.

“As farmers we care deeply about the environment and with this acceptance of a need for a review we have the opportunity to once again become partners with the Welsh Government in the efforts to tackle pollution and to protect our environment.”

NFU Cymru president John Davies said he was particularly concerned about the impact on family farms. He said an all-Wales NVZ was “indiscriminate and punitive” and would lead to many businesses questioning whether they can afford the required additional investment in infrastructure to meet compliance.

“It will affect every sector, every area of Wales, and every farmer will be subject to draconian record keeping and complex restrictions on the day-to-day running of their business for environmental benefits that appear to be quite small,” he said.

NFU Cymru was earlier this year given the green by the High Court to challenge the new rules, saying the Welsh Government had acted “unlawfully”.

The regulations effectively make the whole of Wales an environmental “at-risk” zone, which limits the use of slurry and fertiliser applications on farmland to tackle river pollution. The majority of incidents stem from run-off into watercourses of agricultural sources such as chemical fertilisers, slurry and manure.

Welsh rural affairs secretary Lesley Griffiths defended the decision, saying that far too many agricultural pollution incidents are being recorded.

The Welsh Government said it had given Welsh farmers four years to clean up their act on agricultural pollution, but with incidents averaging over three a week, it had decided to act.

The March motion was defeated by three votes, with 27 Members of the Senedd voting for it, 30 against and no abstentions.