Option 4: Using urea based fertilisers after 1 April 2024

In October 2022, the consortium formally requested a further delay to the launch of Option 4 for one year or until the fertiliser market returned to a more normalised state.

The NFU maintain that the decision to request a delay in the launch of Option 4 in the autumn last year was right and the most rational decision to make at the time. Six months on, the current market situation and future outlook are different, and no one member of the Industry Consortium or government could have predicted the greatly improved circumstances we now find ourselves in.

That being the case, and following careful consideration and discussions between consortium members, we are more confident that the introduction of Option 4 has been deferred long enough to avoid a significant market impact.

We recognise that farming has a key role to play in reducing ammonia emissions, but if that is at the expense of competitiveness and offshoring production, it is not acceptable.

Enforcement under the Red Tractor Standard will take place on 1 April 2024. From this date, the use of inhibited urea-based fertiliser will be required outside of the open window for uninhibited product from 15 January – 31 March.

NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: “We have informed Defra that the industry self-regulation approach to the use of uninhibited urea fertiliser under a new Red Tractor standard be enforced from 1 April 2024.

“The NFU and industry partners fought hard for nearly two years to achieve a robust and pragmatic industry-led approach, without this, the clear proposal from DEFRA was an outright ban on the use of uninhibited urea fertilisers.

“Using uninhibited urea saves farmers £13.8 million annually. And its value stretches further when you consider its role in keeping the UK market competitive and minimising nutrient leaching risks associated with early season use of ammonium nitrate.”

The consortium comprise, NFU, AIC | The Agricultural Industries Confederation, AICC | Association of Independent Crop Consultants, BASIS, CLA | Country Land and Business Association, NIAB and Red Tractor.

Red Tractor

Businesses found not to be complying with Option 4 by Red Tractor will be required to undertake the BASIS module: Reducing Ammonia Emissions.

The module, which has been funded and developed in collaboration with AIC, AICC, CLA, NIAB, Red Tractor and the NFU, is designed to give farmers the knowledge and tools to reduce ammonia emissions from both manufactured fertilisers and organic materials in livestock housing, storage and when applied to land.

Before the introduction of Option 4 the NFU urges all members to take part in the BASIS module: How to Reduce Ammonia Emissions from Farming which has been developed with the industry. (Note to Editor: BASIS members can complete this as part of their membership, for non-members there are 500 additional free places).

Any industry approach needs to be auditable. This is where Red Tractor were asked to support the industry and deliver value for scheme members by helping demonstrate responsible use of untreated urea fertiliser.

Maintaining access to urea is critical for a competitive fertiliser market and productive, profitable growing systems.

Potential regulation

It has been made clear by a Ministerial letter received on 21 March 2023, that the default approach from government was for an outright ban on untreated urea fertiliser. Access to urea fertiliser is crucial, and if the last 18 months have shown anything, it’s that we need diversity in our fertiliser supply.

Tom Bradshaw went on to explain: “With the Government’s Clean Air strategy targeting, among other things, reduction in ammonia emissions, farming must demonstrate we can play our part in reducing emissions while maintaining competitiveness.  Demonstrating responsible use of urea fertiliser will show government that we can act responsibly and hopefully open the door to other industry-led solutions.”

From the 1 April 2024 fertiliser containing urea must only be applied where the following requirements are met:

• Protected/inhibited fertilisers containing solid urea can be applied within any product use-by/best before dates.
• Protected/inhibited fertilisers containing liquid urea can be applied with the prescribed rate of protector/inhibitor for the application, and within any product use by/best before dates.
• In England, unprotected/uninhibited solid fertiliser containing urea can only be applied between 15 January and 31 March.
• In England, unprotected/uninhibited liquid fertiliser containing urea can be applied between 15 January and 31 March.
• In England, unprotected/uninhibited liquid fertiliser containing urea can be applied between 1 April and last application in autumn only if agronomic justification is provided by FACTS-qualified farm personnel or advice specific for the crop has been provided by a FACTS – Qualified Adviser and been followed (see EC 9.1).
• In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, fertiliser containing urea (solid and liquid) can be applied as per relevant legislation.

Non-compliance

The BASIS Ammonia Module will be available on the BASIS | Classroom (basis-reg.co.uk) website from 27 March 2023.

The module includes a mixture of videos, audio and interactive learning and will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.

The government’s consultation on reducing ammonia emissions from solid urea fertilisers closed in January 2021. It has now published its response agreeing, for now, with the NFU and other industry partners that a farming industry self-regulation approach will work best for the environment and food production.

The consultation presented proposals implementing the first of several regulatory measures, outlined in the Clean Air Strategy, to be applied to the agriculture sector.

The consultation opened on 3 November 2020 and closed on 26 January 2021.

Visit GOV.UK for full detail of the consultation: reducing ammonia emissions from urea fertilisers

NFU response

The NFU has submitted its response to the government consultation, setting out the importance of solid urea when used alongside other products such as ammonium nitrate. The response also details why it is used by farmers as part of a balanced and integrated nutrient management plan.

The NFU believes an industry-regulated approach to the use of solid urea fertiliser will allow farmers in England to keep using this vital product to help grow the nation’s food, while cutting ammonia emissions significantly at the same time.

NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: “Solid urea is a vital tool used by farmers to produce the food we eat. It offers farmers the flexibility to use the right product at the right time to minimise environmental impact, while also helping maintain a competitive fertiliser market. Banning solid urea would also discriminate against farmers in England, who would face increased competition from imports from countries around the world where farmers continue to have full access to the product.

“No-one disputes that farming has a part to play in reducing emissions and farmers are already working hard towards this goal by using low emission spreading equipment, for example, improving livestock diets and covering slurry stores. Alongside this we’ve seen increases in nitrogen use efficiency since the mid 1990s.

“This is why the NFU is urging Defra to look at the bigger picture as part of this consultation instead of taking decisions in isolation, given the huge impact it will have on British farming.

“We firmly believe that farmers in England need continued access to untreated solid urea. So, working with our members and alongside other industry stakeholders and independent scientists, the NFU is proposing a viable alternative to the options put forward by Defra.

“We are calling for an industry-regulated approach that ensures a high uptake and allows farmers to continue enjoying the benefits of untreated urea. Farmers would be encouraged to use solid urea between 15 January and 31 March which would be measurable through a recommendation in Red Tractor standards or a FACTS qualification. We believe this option will also minimise costs to farmers while ensuring an acceptable emissions reduction is achieved for Defra, in a way that also allows farming to achieve other important ambitions around productivity and reaching net zero by 2040.”