Nitrates regulation

The Nitrates Regulation regulates the use of nitrogen in agriculture and horticulture. It regulates, among other things, the storage of manure in manure pits and ploughs, manure spreading, nitrogen amounts per hectare and record-keeping obligations. The maximum amount of total nitrogen that can be applied is 170 kg/ha per year.

The manure tank must be large enough to hold a year’s worth of manure. If less than 25 m³ of manure accumulates, the manure house does not need to be built. However, the manure must be well managed.

Battering (= ploughing in the legal text) is allowed as long as the following conditions are met

• a declaration of batterying has been made
• the dry matter content of the manure is at least 30%
• the pit is correctly positioned (more than 5 m from a ditch, more than 100 m from a watercourse, main drain or domestic well) at the top of a sloping block
• a liquid-retaining layer (approx. 20 cm) is applied to the bottom of the pit and covered with a tarpaulin, for example.
• The spreading of manure on fields is prohibited from 1 November to 31 March. At other times, the spreading ban is also in force if the field is covered with snow, frost or water. In exceptional circumstances, the application period may be extended to November, provided that the Environment Agency is notified in good time, by 31 October at the latest.
• When manure is spread outside the crop, it must be incorporated into the soil within 24 hours. Also take into account the proximity of wells, the slope of the field and the constraints of autumn.

Environmental permits for livestock farms

The need for an environmental permit/notification depends on the number of animals. For example, fattening pigs are notified to the municipality if there are 250-2 000 fattening pigs. If there are more fattening pigs, an environmental permit is applied for from the AVI.

Reporting limits and forms for the number of animals in an animal house.

Recycling plastic

In terms of recycling, agriculture generates two types of waste:
(a) jerry cans and other sales packaging for which the producer/packer has paid the deposit, and
(b) plastics purchased by the farm itself for use in packaging. Examples include bales and foam plastics. The cost of recycling these is borne by the farmer.

Guide to plastic on farms (Food Agency)
Farm plastics for recycling (University of Jyväskylä publication)

Practical tips

Other water protection

Please remember to report the drainage to the ELY Centre. Instructions and form attached.