1
NetRegs
Smallholders environmental
checklist
Table of contents
Page 2 SOIL
Page 4 PROTECTING WATER
Page 8 ANIMALS
Page 10 CROPS
Page 12 WASTE
Page 14 BUILDINGS
Page 16 MACHINERY< EQUIPMENT AND FUEL
Page 18 PROTECT BIODIVERSITY
Page 20 FORESTRY
Page 22 MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Page 24 EMERGENCIES
Page 26 INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
2
Soil
Prevent soil compacon
This allows air and water to move deep into the soil,
allowing healthy root development and encouraging healthy
plant growth.
Reduce axel loads where possible
Avoid vehicles accessing elds aer heavy rain or
if soils are waterlogged
Be aware of the impacts that animals can have by
trampling certain areas.
Get Help
Add
Daera: Soil structure and
avoiding compacon
Farming and Water Scotland:
soil and nutrients
Scosh Government: Farm Soil
Plan
Farming for a beer climate:
Valuing your soils
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Get the correct nutrient balance
Create a nutrient budget for your farm; regular
soil tesng will help target nutrients where
needed.
Consider applicaon methods, for example to
avoid losing nitrogen when applying slurry
Daera: Soil sampling
Farming and Water Scotland:
Nutrient budgets
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Correct pH for soil
The correct pH level for your soil will allow the
uptake of ferlisers by plants, improving yields.
Think about soil sampling and liming
Less uptake of nutrients means poorer crops and a
greater risk of diuse polluon from the farm land
Daera: Soil sampling
Farming and Water Scotland:
Soil and pH
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
3
Landspreading organic ferlisers
You must be aware of the rules that govern the
use of certain wastes, such as paper sludge or
food waste
You should also be familiar with the rules for the
use of slurries and manure
Organic ferlisers such as slurry and manure can
provide valuable nutrients and can improve soil
texture.
Get Help
NetRegs: Landspreading waste
NetRegs: Landspreading slurry
and manure
WRAP.org.uk: Renewable
ferliser matrix
NFUS and Zero waste Scotland:
Sourcing and using digestate
and compost
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Soil connued
Notes
4
Protecng water
Water abstracon and impoundment
If you want to abstract or impound water from a
borehole, a spring, a burn, a stream, a river or
loch/lough you may need authorisaon from the
NIEA or SEPA.
Get Help
Add
NetRegs: Water abstracon or
impoundment
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Bank management
Protect riverbanks from erosion and stabilise
exisng riverbanks using best pracce techniques.
SEPA: Engineering in the water
environment. A good pracce
guide
SEPA: Sustainable riverbank
protecon
SEPA: Reducing riverbank
erosion Best pracce guide
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Dredging
In northern Ireland: contact the Rivers oces for
informaon about dredging of waterways.
In Scotland: read the guidance from SEPA on any
works in or near water.
Northern Ireland: Contact the
DfI Rivers Oces
SEPA: Dredging—A land
managers guide
SEPA: dredging in straightened
river between 1 and 5m wide
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
5
Works in or near water
Working in or near water can cause damage to the
bed or banks, can cause problems with silt in the
watercourse and can transfer non-nave species.
Get Help
GPP 05: Works and
maintenance in or near water
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Steading drainage
Runo from around the steading must not cause
polluon. Collect and store drainage contaminated
with manure or slurry
Lightly contaminated drainage can be treated with
constructed farm wetlands or other sustainable
drainage systems.
Northern Ireland: Good
agricultural pracce—air soil
and water
Farming and Water Scotland:
Steading Drainage
Constructed Farm wetlands:
design manual for Northern
Ireland and Scotland
CIRIA: The SUDS Manual
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Poaching and bank erosion
Know the rules that prevent signicant poaching
Posion livestock feeders at least 10m from water
Fence areas to prevent animals accessing
watercourses
Northern Ireland: Cross
Compliance and Veriable
Standards
Farming and Water Scotland:
Poaching and erosion
Scosh Government: Cross
compliance veriable standards
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Protecng water cont.
6
Sepc tanks, biodiscs for sewage
treatment
Check if your building has a sepc tank or other
treatment system
Is it in proper working order, e.g.are there odours,
or does the wastewater drain very slowly?
Make sure you know what can and can’t go into
the tank
Is it emped regularly?
Get Help
NetRegs: Sepc tanks
NetRegs: Sepc tanks e-learning
tool
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Spreading ferlisers
Make sure when you apply ferlisers that the
nutrients will remain on your farm where needed.
Be aware of weather condions, soil condions
and know the rules for spreading near water.
Maintain your spreading equipment and make
sure it is properly calibrated.
DAERA: Nitrogen ferliser
opons 2019
DAERA: Use of organic
ferlisers and soil improvers
Farming and water Scotland:
Slurry and manure
Farming and water Scotland:
Inorganic ferlisers
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
The use of buer strips
Buer strips prevent the loss of soil to ditches,
burns , rivers etc. and help prevent polluon from
ferliser and pescide runo.
Northern Ireland: Cross
compliance veriable standards
(GAEC 1)
Farming and water Scotland :
Diuse polluon
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Protecng water cont.
7
Soil and culvaon
Soils are an essenal resource: check that you are
not damaging soil eg by compacon and that soils
are not being washed o your land.
In wet weather, avoid heavy trampling from
livestock or tramlines from machinery, parcularly
on slopes/close to eld gates/near water.
DAERA: Soil structure and
avoiding compacon
DAERA: Valuable soils need
protecon
Farming and water Scotland:
Soil and culvaon
Scosh Government: Farm Soil
Plan
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Pescides and water
Pescide users must have a cercate of
competence, or work under the supervision of
someone who has.
The storage and handling of pescides must be
done in a way that prevents the risk of polluon.
Know the rules for spraying pescides near water,
and take care washing down equipment.
Get Help
DAERA: Guidance on the use of
pescides
Farming and Water Scotland:
Using pescides
Farming and Water Scotland:
Purchase and storage of
pescides
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Protecng water cont.
Notes
8
Animals
Keeping livestock
If you want to keep animals on your land you will
need to get a unique idencaon number for
your business.
Make sure you understand the rules surrounding
the keeping and movement of livestock.
Get Help
Add
DAERA: Livestock farming
DAERA: Idencaon numbers
for herd and ock keepers
NIDirect: Keeping chickens
FAS Scotland: Livestock
Scotland’s Rural College: CPH
and herd or ock numbers
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Veterinary medicines
Store veterinary medicines safely.
Use as indicated on the labels and dispose of
unused medicines by returning to your vet’s
surgery.
NetRegs: Veterinary medicines
NetRegs: Storage and disposal
of medicine
DAERA Proper use of veterinary
medicines-responsibilies of
farmers.
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Sheep dip
Sheep dippers and drip pens must be located
away from water and must be maintained in good
condion.
Anyone dipping sheep must be the holder of the
correct cercate or supervised by the holder.
Disposal of waste sheep dip to land will require a
permit from your environmental regulator.
DAERA: Sheep dipping courses
Farming and Water Scotland:
Sheep dip
NetRegs: Sheep dip rules
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
9
Organic livestock producon
To produce and market organic meat you must be
registered with an organic control body and you
must adopt certain organic standards.
Get Help
Soil Associaon: Why choose
organic?
DAERA: Organic beef
producon
Europa EU: Organic farming
SRUC organic livestock
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Animals cont.
Notes
10
Crops
Pests and diseases
Pest, weeds and diseases can adversely aect
your producvity. Be aware of the best methods
and techniques to combat them.
Get Help
Add
DAERA: Crops and horculture
Farming Advisory Service
(Scotland) Crops and soils:
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Biobeds
Biobeds can be used to prevent equipment
washings from causing polluon.
Check and see if construcng a biobed would be of
benet to you
Check that no authorisaon from your
environmental regulator is required for washings.
The Voluntary iniave:
Biobeds
NIBusiness Info: Disposal of
pescides
Scosh Government: Code of
pracce for using plant
protecon products
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Ferlisers
If you farm in Northern Ireland you must be aware
of the Nitrate and Phosphate rules that apply
when applying ferliser to your land.
In Scotland, rules apply to the applicaon of
ferlisers with addional rules for farms within
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
NetRegs: Ferliser applicaon
NetRegs: Ferliser regulaons
DAERA Code of Good
Agricultural Pracce for the
Reducon of Ammonia
Emissions.
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
11
Organic crop producon
There are cercaon bodies that provide guidance
covering converng to organic producon and the
standards that are required for organic cercaon.
Organic methods reduce the risk of water polluon
by removing many of the chemicals that can cause
harm to the environment.
Get Help
The Soil Associaon: What is
organic farming
Organic Farmers and Growers
DAERA: Organic producon -
general informaon
Scosh organic producers
associaon
SRUC: Organic crop producon
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Crops connued
Notes
12
Waste
Duty of care
Make sure you understand your duty of care for
waste
Hazardous/Special waste
Waste with hazardous properes must be
segregated and dealt with as Hazardous/Special
waste
Get Help
Add
NetRegs: Duty of Care
NetRegs: Hazardous/Special
waste
NetRegs: Agricultural waste
DAERA Duty of Care
DAERA Hazardous Waste
SEPA: Special Waste
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Composng and AD
Composng is a way of treang organic waste to
yield a valuable ferliser and soil condioner. You
may be able to carry out this acvity under a
waste exempon.
Anaerobic digeson uses materials such as slurry,
manure and energy crops such as rye grass or pea
to produce methane gas for energy as well as
ferliser.
NetRegs: Composng
NetRegs Anaerobic Digeson
WRAP NI: PAS100 compost
specicaon
Informaon portal on AD
Zero Waste Scotland: AD
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Farm Plascs
Find a collecon service that will collect your used
plascs, including silage wrap and empty plasc
containers for recycling or disposal.
Zero Waste Scotland: Farm
plasc recycling
SEPA: Farm plascs informaon
leaet
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
13
Waste exempons for agriculture
A number of waste acvies can be carried out on
your farm under exempons from your
environmental regulator.
Get Help
NetRegs: Waste exempons for
agriculture
DAERA: Waste exempons for
agriculture
SEPA: Acvies exempt from
waste management licensing
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Waste connued
Notes
14
Buildings
Generate renewable energy
You might be able to use roofs of buildings to
install solar PV and/or solar water heang.
Installing wind turbines could help generate the
energy you use and provide an income.
Get Help
Add
NetRegs: Generate renewable
energy
DAERA: Solar PV on the farm.
Scosh Government:
Renewable energy on farms
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Asbestos and asbestos cement
Check your buildings and roofs for signs that
asbestos and asbestos containing cement have
been used in the past.
Learn how to reduce risks from these materials
and what you must do if you decide to remove
them
GOV.UK: White asbestos on
farms: how to spot, manage
and dispose of it
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Rainwater harvesng
Make use of the free resource in the form of
rainwater collected from your roofs.
NetRegs: Video case study—
How to harvest rainwater
LEAF: A guide to rainwater
harvesng on a farm
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
15
Oil and fuel storage
Make sure all oils and fuels are stored in
compliance with the regulaons that cover Oil
Storage.
Get Help
GPP 2 Above ground oil storage
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Buildings connued
Notes
16
Machinery, equipment and fuel
Buying environmentally friendly goods
When you make purchases, check the
sustainability of dierent products.
Look at the businesses selling them and choose
those with green credenals
Get Help
Add
NetRegs: Buying
environmentally friendly goods
and services
Resource Ecient Scotland:
Quick guide to sustainable
procurement
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Dealing with waste oil
Check and nd out if there is an oil bank nearby
that you can use, or nd a licensed carrier who can
collect your waste oil.
Waste oil must be stored, and transported safely
and in a way that avoids spills.
GPP 8 Safe storage and disposal
of used oils
Oil Care Campaign: Find your
nearest Oil Bank
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Servicing and maintenance
Looking aer machinery and equipment will
lengthen its life and help you avoid costly
replacements.
NetRegs: Maintaining farm
machinery
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
17
Machinery , equipment and fuel connued
Notes
18
Protect biodiversy
Acon to help pollinators
There are simple ways in which you can help to
encourage nave pollinators on your land, such
as planng wildower borders, hedge cung
pracces and idenfying and protecng
pollinators’ nest sites.
Get Help
Add
NetRegs: Acons to help
pollinators
The Nature Friendly Farming
Network (NFFN)
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Dealing with invasive non-nave species
It is important to recognise and know how to
remove invasive non-nave species.
NetRegs: Japanese knotweed,
giant Hogweed and other
invasive weeds
GB Non Nave Species
Secretariat
Invasive Species Ireland
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Field biodiversity
It is possible to encourage biodiversity on your
land and maintain a protable business
DAERA: Biodiversity
Farm Advisory Service:
Biodiversity
RSPB: Farming in Scotland
SNH: Biodiversity on hill and
upland farms
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
19
Nature Friendly Farming Network
The Nature Friendly Farming Network is a group of
farmers who have come together to champion a
way of farming that is sustainable and good for
nature.
Share knowledge and spread good pracce.
Get Help
Nature Friendly Farming
Network
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Protect biodiversity connued
Notes
20
Forestry
Creang small woodlands
There are many benets to having small
woodlands on your land, from increasing
biodiversity to sheltering crops and livestock.
Agro-forestry is about gaining the benets of
trees and agriculture through integrated land
management
Get Help
Add
DAERA: Legacy Forestry Grants
scheme
DAERA: Forestry grants
Scosh Forestry: Creang small
woodlands on farms in Scotland
RPS: Forestry Grants Scheme
Scotland
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Burning biomass for fuel
A number of crops including willow and
mithcansus grass can be grown and processed
specially for burning in biomass burners. This can
be for heat or power, or combined heat and
power.
NIDirect: Biomass
Energy Saving Trust: Biomass
for heang
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Willow coppice for fuel
Willow is a fast growing crop that can be used for
fuel or for a range of natural products.
DAERA: Short rotaon coppice
scheme
Forestry Scotland: Wood energy
Willowscotland
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
21
Notes
22
Management tools
Manage environmental aspects with
toolkits
Help to manage your environmental impacts
using the SME toolkits from NetRegs
Get Help
Add
NetRegs: Northern Ireland SME
toolkit
NetRegs: Scotland SME toolkit
NetRegs: Manage and improve
your environmental
performance
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Adapt to climate change
Climate change will have impacts on agriculture,
as it is an acvity that is very dependent on
weather. Find out what steps you can take to
climate proof your acvies.
Climate Northern Ireland
DAERA: Northern Ireland
climate adaptaon programme
Adaptaon Scotland: Climate
Ready places
Scosh Natural Heritage:
Farming and climate change
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Nutrient management planning
It is important to use the correct nutrients at the
correct levels for the crops and grass you grow. A
nutrient management plan is the way to make
best use of resources
FAS: Farm Management
handbook (2018-19)
DAERA: Nutrient Acon
Programme Regulaons 2019-
2022
Planet: Nutrient management
tool
Applies to all
Implemented
Will Invesgate
23
Organic conversion
Find the support and funding that is available for
you to convert to organic producon.
Get Help
Soil Associaon: Funding for
Organic Farmers in Northern
Ireland
CAFRE Organic team: 028 9442
6765
Soil Associaon: Organic in
Scotland
Scosh Government Rural
Payments and Services: Agri-
environment Climate scheme
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Management tools connued
Notes
24
Emergencies
Manage ood risk
Are you prepared for ooding? Flooding can be
caused by rivers, the sea, surface water or
overowing drains or sewers.
Find out if you are at risk using the oodmaps.
Get Help
Add
NI Department of
Infrastructure: Flood maps
SEPA: Flood maps
SEPA: Sign up for ooding
messages
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Dealing with spills
If you have a spill on your farm, of any material or
liquid that could cause harm to land or water it is
important that you have a plan in place to deal
with it.
NetRegs: GPP 22—Dealing with
spills
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Extreme weather events
Be prepared for extreme weather events, and
build resilience into your acvies.
Climate Northern Ireland:
resources
Adaptaon Scotland: Tools and
resources
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
25
Polluon incident response planning
Remember: Source, Pathway, Receptor.
Put in place a plan that will help you to prevent
harm if spills or accidents happen.
Keep spill equipment appropriate to the materials
you have on site and be prepared to use them.
Get Help
NetRegs: GPP 21 Polluon
Incident Response Planning
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Emergencies connued
Notes
26
General informaon and support:
Northern Ireland
NI Smallholder and Grow your own group on
Facebook
Scotland
Scosh Government: Smallholdings
Scosh Government: Small Landholdings
NOTES
Add
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Useful websites
The Smallholder
Scotland: Farm Advisory Service—Cros and small
farms
The Accidental Smallholder
Northern Ireland: Rural Support
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Grants and funding
Northern Ireland DAERA: Grants and funding for
rural businesses
Scotland: Rural Payments and Services
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
27
Get Help
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate
Not Applicable
Implemented
Will Invesgate