Image caption, Karen Brosnan is the independent chair of the group
ByLouise CullenAgriculture and environment correspondent, BBC News NI- PublishedJust now
Farmers who sign up to a new programme could face fewer inspections, if fresh proposals to tackle water pollution from agriculture are adopted.
The draft Nutrient Action Programme (NAP) 2027-2030 has been published for consultation.
The previous draft document led to calls of "scrap the NAP", with farmers saying it was out of touch with day-to-day farming.
Under management consultant Karen Brosnan, a task-and-finish group of more than 70 farmers, scientists, environmentalists and agri-food representatives reviewed responses to that consultation and have agreed on a new document.
The NAP is reviewed every four years and this latest version is already overdue.
The task-and-finish group, made up of more than 70 farmers, scientists, environmentalists, agri-food producers and policy makers, met more than 60 times after being set up 9 months ago.
John McLenaghan, president of the Ulster Farmers' Union, was involved in the process.
He said the new document was unrecognisable from what had been published before.
"It wasn't straightforward. It wasn't simple - these are complex issues.
"But central to it all the way through was this idea of introducing measures which would be practical at a farm level, workable at a farm level, would still maintain productivity and provide that opportunity for productivity growth sustainably, and at the same time show environmental improvement, particularly in terms of water quality, which the NAP primarily looks at.
"The key thing is that we keep this workable and practically, I think that was one of the great wins from this process - everybody recognising and understanding everybody else's position better as we went through the process."
The co-design approach was "a little nerve-wracking", according to the group's chair, Karen Brosnan.
"But we've been very fortunate that those in the room have chosen to be there and they've chosen to comply with the design and comply with the terms of reference and the charter.
"So people chose to engage respectfully and to stay at the conversation until solutions were agreed.
"It's a way of working that works."
Image caption, John McLenaghan, president of the Ulster Farmers' Union, was involved in the process
New approach for large-scale producers
Among the proposed changes is the replacement of derogation with the Nutrient Stewardship Programme (NSP).
More intensive farmers would be able to sign up to the NSP and have fewer inspections, in return for compliance.
There are several different paths within it that allow farmers to meet their obligations while continuing to produce at the same level.
Image caption, Louise Skelly said "more inspections in that area are actually something that farmers would really welcome"
Louise Skelly, a County Down sheep farmer who chairs the Nature Friendly Farming Network in Northern Ireland, said it was a welcome change.
"I think those farmers who are in the Nutrient Stewardship Programme will be really focused on making good decisions around nutrient management on their farm.
"At the end of the day, nobody wants to waste good resources, so they will be well trained up on all of that.
"But those people who are causing problems may well most likely be outside that programme, and we would like to see greater regulation for the few that are actually causing a problem, because that's what gets farmers a bad name.
"So more inspections in that area are actually something that farmers would really welcome."
Consultation starts today
The 10-week consultation will run until 7 September.
The responses will be considered, then executive approval sought for the revised proposals so that they can be implemented in this Assembly mandate.
The agriculture, environment and rural affairs minister Andrew Muir said the revised NAP was "critical" to improving water quality and creating "a thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable future" for agriculture.
"All measures have been carefully considered and are firmly embedded in science and evidence.
"Through this process, our agricultural sector has again shown its willingness to work with environmental organisations and rise to the challenges posed by poor water quality.
"I know that the majority of our farmers are already taking positive steps to manage nutrients more efficiently and to protect the environment.
"However, if we are to address the issues at Lough Neagh and elsewhere, we need to tackle all sources of nutrient pollution. I will not be found wanting in terms of regulation of wastewater, but we need collective endeavour across government to deliver good water quality."
What is the NAP?
The NAP was first introduced in 2007 as the Nitrates Action Plan, to comply with the EU nitrates directive.
Alongside it, phosphorus regulations were brought in.
Both are designed to tackle water pollution from agricultural sources, by implementing strict controls on the amount of, where and when fertiliser including slurry can be spread.
Due to the nature of their business, intensive farmers were permitted to apply for a derogation - permission to spread more on the land than the limits that applied elsewhere.
In 2019, both nitrates and phosphorus regulations were brought together under the Nutrients Action Plan.
The NAP should be reviewed every four years to ensure the measures it implements are relevant to the current situation.
The fourth review that should have happened in 2023 caused controversy when it was finally published in 2025.
The farming lobby said it had not been involved in the details before the document went out for consultation, and there were calls to "scrap the NAP".
Instead, after extending the consultation, the Minister announced plans to create a task-and-finish group to analyse the responses - more than 3,000 of them - and come back with new proposals.
That led to this fifth review, which will now go to consultation.
Related topics
'Significant change' needed to tackle agri pollution
- Published30 April
Environmental plan is largely off track, warns watchdog
- Published5 days ago
Farmers say NI pollution proposals 'out of touch'
- Published16 May 2025
