Farmers in Wales will get an extra month to spread slurry this autumn and larger advance payments after this summer's drought, Cabinet Secretary for rural resilience Llyr Gruffydd announced on 23 September, Farmers Weekly reports.

"I've heard directly from farmers and growers about the impacts of this summer's drought ... they've told me they need three things from their government: certainty, flexibility and support," Gruffydd said.

Prolonged dry weather disrupted grass growth, silage cutting and normal slurry applications, leaving stores fuller than usual. New legislation will allow slurry and other manures high in readily available nitrogen to be spread until 15 November 2026 on all soil types, extending the usual 15 October deadline by four weeks, with a temporary window from 15 October to 15 November on sandy or shallow soils. It applies only to 2026 and excludes poultry manure and manufactured nitrogen fertiliser. Applications are capped at 30 cubic metres per hectare at a time, at least three weeks apart. The government said emptying stores carries less pollution risk than stores overflowing or failing in winter.

Advance payments under the Sustainable Farming Scheme Universal Layer and the Basic Payment Scheme will rise from 70% to 80% of estimated claim values, starting from 14 October, with balances from 11 December after checks.

NFU Cymru president Abi Reader said the action would help underpin food production "after one of the most challenging years in living memory", and Farmers' Union of Wales president Ian Rickman said it would give farmers time to use nutrients well and safely empty stores. Natural Resources Wales also backed the extension.

Photo: Philip Halling / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Source: Farmers Weekly