Changes to silage bale storage rules

In the most recent review of the Nitrates Regulations (2010), changes were introduced to the way silage bales may be stored.

Farmers may need to re-examine how they store silage bales, particularly near watercourses (surface watercourses include rivers, streams and drains, or dry drains that carry water only during high rainfall events).

The Nitrates Regulations state clearly that any effluent arising from silage/haylage bales must be collected and stored correctly.

The following points summarise the requirements under the Nitrates Regulations.

n Silage/haylage bales may not be stored in a field within 20m of a watercourse.

nSilage/haylage bales may only be stored within 20m of a watercourse within a farmyard, provided that any effluent discharges are collected and stored properly.

n If storing silage/haylage bales more than 20m from a watercourse on grass or hardcore, there must be no evidence of effluent discharge, otherwise a penalty will apply.

n Penalties will be imposed on SFP, DAS, REPS, AEOS and Grassland Sheep Scheme and can vary from 1% to 100%.

n Under the Nitrates Regulations, there is no restriction on the number of bales high that silage can be stored on grass or hardcore, provided that there is no discharge of effluent from the bales.

REPS 4 farmers may only stack silage bales to a maximum of two bales high.