Farmers in Devon, Somerset and Northern Ireland have recently been ordered to pay fines ranging from £5,000 to £20,000 after silage clamp leaks polluted local watercourses.

“With the silage season upon us, it is vital that farmers check their silage clamps now – before the first cut – to prevent highly-toxic run-off from entering nearby waterways,” said Rupert Wailes-Fairbairn at agricultural insurance broker and risk management expert Lycetts.

“Silage effluent, which can be up to 200 times more toxic than untreated sewage, poses a significant threat to aquatic life, wildlife, and broader ecosystems.”

The Rivers Trust annual ‘State of Our Rivers’ report revealed in February this year that agricultural pollution contributes to 62% of waterways in England failing to meet good standards for chemical and biological pollution.

“It’s essential that all parts of the silage storage system, from pipes to tanks, are well maintained,” explained Wailes-Fairbairn.