Farmers in England required to use urea fertiliser inhibitors from April 1, 2024

Farmers in England preparing for the busy spring season must remember to use an inhibitor when applying urea fertilisers to avoid further government restrictions and help improve air quality, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has warned.

The agri-supply trade association is reminding farmers and growers that the agricultural supply industry and farming unions are committed to working in partnership to deliver substantial ammonia emissions reductions from the use of both solid and liquid fertilisers containing urea from April this year.

An industry voluntary approach agreed last year means farmers and growers must use ammonia abatement treatments and inhibitors to counter the risk of the Government seeking to further restrict the use of urea fertiliser with tough regulation, a potential move driven by the urgent need to cut ammonia emissions in the UK.

AIC has worked with farming unions and the industry to find and implement a voluntary solution which ensures farmers' access to vital fertilisers while helping to meet the UK's legally binding air quality targets for ammonia emissions.

Jo Gilbertson, AIC's Head of Fertiliser, said: "The industry's collective agreement with the Government to use inhibitors, and therefore avoid the very real threat of an outright ban on urea fertilisers, was hard won last year.

"It is imperative that the entire farming industry maintains its clear commitment to support this arrangement in the face of the ever-present threat of regulation, which is driven by the UK's legal obligations to cut ammonia emissions as part of international air improvement treaties."

Industry commitment

In England, solid fertilisers, blends and compounds with more than 1% urea applied any time from 1 April through to 15 January each year must use effective protection to reduce ammonia emissions.

Farmers in England using liquid fertilisers with more than 1% urea applied any time from 1 April to 15 January each year must also use effective protection to reduce ammonia emissions.

Unprotected, uninhibited liquid fertiliser containing urea can only be applied between 1 April and the last application in autumn if agronomic justification is provided by FACTS-qualified farm personnel or advice specific to the crop has been provided by a FACTS-qualified adviser and been followed.