West Tyrone 's McCrossan urges Muir to consider slurry spreading extension following Welsh decision

West Tyrone MLA and Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee member Daniel McCrossan has urged Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir to consider a temporary extension to slurry spreading, following the Welsh Government’s announcement of flexibility until November 15.

He warned that prolonged wet weather had restricted opportunities for farmers to spread safely, leaving concerns about slurry stores filling ahead of winter.

“Farmers need a practical response to the conditions they are facing. Prolonged wet weather can leave fields unsuitable for spreading, while slurry continues to accumulate and storage space becomes increasingly tight.

“Where tanks are approaching capacity, farmers face real pressure heading into winter. A carefully controlled extension could allow them to use suitable weather and ground conditions after the deadline, creating much-needed storage space and reducing the risk of overflowing tanks and pollution,” he said.

He pointed out that the Welsh Government has recognised these pressures and announced temporary flexibility with safeguards. Its environmental regulator supports that approach because it could help prevent storage failures.

“As a member of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, I want Minister Muir to urgently examine whether similar flexibility could help farmers here.

“Any extension must retain strong protections for our rivers and lakes. Ground conditions, rainfall forecasts and the ability of grass to absorb nutrients must guide decisions, alongside clear application limits and appropriate buffers.

“Farmers deserve clear guidance and a timely decision. The Minister should engage with farming representatives and assess the Welsh approach before the closed period begins,” he said.