Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. September 2025
    2. August 2025
    3. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    4. July 2025
    5. June 2025
    6. 2025 Innovation supplement
    7. May 2025
    8. April 2025
    9. March 2025
    10. 2025 Buildings supplement
    11. February 2025
    12. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    13. January 2025
    14. December 2024
    15. November 2024
    16. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    17. October 2024
    18. September 2024
    19. August 2024
    20. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    21. July 2024
    22. June 2024
    23. 2024 Innovation supplement
    24. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    25. May 2024
    26. April 2024
    27. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    28. March 2024
    29. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    30. February 2024
    31. January 2024
    32. December 2023
    33. November 2023
    34. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    35. October 2023
    36. September 2023
    37. Health Supplement
    Featured

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025
    Recent

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025

    2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement now available

    August 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Lizzie Wilson

Big changes coming as Defra looks to deliver on Clean Air Strategy

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersJune 3, 20213 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

NPA policy services officer Lizzie Wilson sets out some of the regulatory implications for pig producers of the Government’s Clean Air Strategy. 

Lizzie Wilson
Lizzie Wilson

I recently participated in a government update on the Clean Air Strategy, something which the NPA have been following closely and that has the potential to significantly impact the pig sector.

Ammonia is a primary priority for the government not least because of its effect on human health, and as UK agriculture is responsible for 88% of emissions, we know that change is coming.

Defra made it clear that, according to the scenario analysis work they’ve conducted, we will need to take substantial action to meet the legally binding Clean Air Strategy 2030 target of a 16% reduction in ammonia emissions (vs 2005), and even then, it will not be enough for some sensitive habitats. Particularly if you consider that 85% of English SSSIs receive nitrogen at levels that risk biodiversity loss (for at least one feature).

Livestock housing and manure application are the most significant sources of ammonia with emissions of 27% and 26% respectively, according to 2018 data. However pigs are only responsible for 8% of emissions in comparison to the cattle and poultry sectors, which are responsible for 48% and 16% respectively.

The Clean Air Strategy objectives are to reduce emissions from fertiliser use, extend Environmental Permitting Regulations to dairy and intensive beef sectors by 2025, introduce mandatory design standards for new livestock housing for pigs, poultry, dairy and indoor beef and enforce low emissions spreading and rapid incorporation of manure by 2025 and covers for all slurry and digestate by 2027.

So what has Defra got planned?

They outlined further support for investment including the Sustainable Farm Incentive pilot which will include nutrient management measures such as rapid incorporation of manure and low emission slurry spreading.

The Sustainable Farm Infrastructure and Equipment Fund will also be accessible and will include slurry management measures from September 2021 – both NPA and AHDB submitted a variety of suggested elements for inclusion.

And then, of course, the Slurry Investment Scheme (SIS), the one awaited with most anticipation for the pig sector and which will be developed through co-design with industry stakeholders. That will hopefully be delivered with funding available by late summer/autumn 2022.

If you’d like to be involved in the expert co-design development group, it is due to start shortly so please get in contact via the email address ffcpcodesign@defra.gov.uk.

The SIS will focus on slurry only (not FYM) and will be a multi-year scheme, which will run for a minimum of three years, although Defra would like it to continue for much longer.

With regard to regulations, Defra will be implementing its chosen approach on urea following the earlier consultation and will be issuing a consultation on measures to reduce emissions from slurry and digestate spreading, which will focus on low emission spreading & incorporation of manure and slurry store covers. We have already started to feed into that.

The consultation is likely to propose low, medium and high ambition approaches including injection, incorporation of muck and slurry within four hours and all stores to be fitted with impermeable covers (where practical), covering of muck heaps and scrubbers.

Environmental Permitting for dairy and beef will also be introduced with policy development to start next year (watch this space!). The mandatory standards for new livestock housing are to follow, too.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleGet your running shoes on…
Next Article Pig World – June 2021
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

Comment: Encouraging signs as big pig issues discussed in parliament

July 4, 2025

Comment: All things Trump, tariffs and international trade

May 2, 2025

Comment: Border concerns are gaining traction – but still no meaningful action

March 7, 2025
Latest News

Straw prices for the week ending September 7, 2025

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: An important change driven by the supply chain

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: A commitment to welfare excellence

September 3, 2025
Sponsored Content

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1773 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1772 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1771 Australia

    • Queensland, Australia
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.