Farmers on Edge as Record Rainfall Delays Slurry Season in UK

Published: 28 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Record rainfall this winter has left UK farmers facing mounting pressure as the slurry spreading season — a crucial period for applying livestock manure to fields — struggles to get underway. Persistent wet weather and saturated soils have significantly delayed operations, threatening crop nutrition plans and adding to mounting concerns about production costs and environmental compliance.

Farmers across England and Wales report that fields remain too waterlogged to support machinery without causing soil compaction or ruts. Many are now operating “on the edge,” with little certainty about when ground conditions will be suitable for spreading slurry, a practice that both enriches fields and reduces reliance on artificial fertilisers. The delays coincide with stricter regulatory windows under current environmental rules, which restrict slurry applications when there is a high risk of run‑off entering waterways.

The unusually wet conditions — part of a winter with rainfall totals well above average in much of southern and central England — have created “exceptionally challenging” ground conditions, according to local farmers’ groups. One livestock farmer in Somerset described the situation as “a nightmare for planning,” saying that every weather forecast now feels like “a gamble” for farm operations.

While slurry spreading is essential for replenishing nutrients ahead of the spring growing season, farmers must also navigate Environmental Agency rules designed to prevent phosphorous pollution and water contamination. If their slurry cannot be legally applied within the allowed period because of weather, producers risk disruptions in nutrient management plans and potential penalties for non‑compliance if they are unable to meet deadlines.

Agricultural economists say the delays could have knock‑on effects on livestock enterprises and arable yields. The cost of storing slurry on‑farm — often in large lagoons or tanks — rises with every extra day it remains untreated in winter, increasing both operational risk and expense. Some farmers warn that extended delays may ultimately affect fertiliser budgeting and productivity later in the year.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has urged policymakers to consider greater flexibility in application windows where exceptional weather is concerned, so long as environmental safeguards are maintained. Officials emphasise that farmers are already contending with input cost pressures, volatile markets, and labour shortages — and need regulatory frameworks that recognise the realities of climate‑driven weather patterns.

Environmental groups have reiterated the importance of protecting waterways and soil health, saying that delicately balanced nutrient applications are critical in preventing run‑off and pollution. Their representatives argue that rules should remain robust, even in difficult seasons, and that farmers should be supported with technical guidance and financial schemes for sustainable nutrient management.

Experts note that what was once considered rare “wet winter” weather is becoming more common, in part due to climate variability, presenting significant new challenges for traditional farming timetables and practices. As the slurry season hangs in the balance, farmers remain on edge — trying to reconcile production needs, regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship under increasingly unpredictable conditions.

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