EC Nitrates Directive
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In 1991 Europe adopted the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EC) which seeks to limit Nitrogen levels to 50 mg/l in ground and surface waters throughout the EU. Agriculture has been blamed as the main cause of levels being above this. Pig manures contain up to 7 kg of Total Nitrogen per tonne, although less than 1 kg of this is immediately available in the mineral form that is soluble.
EU Member States have to designate Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) and monitor water quality to assess the effectiveness of their Action Programmes that are designed to meet the targets. The English Action Programme can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/waterquality/diffuse/nitrate/index.htm
Compliance with Nitrate Regulations within NVZs is also a Statutory Management Requirement (SMR4) to claim the Single Payment as part of ‘cross compliance’ for the Common Agricultural Policy. This will be relevant to outdoor pig producers who claim the Single Payment or crop farmers who keep pigs and have to manage their manure.
The Nitrogen Cycle (image courtesy of Farming Futures)