THE environment has always been one of my highest priorities. I have always believed we are only the custodians of the countryside and we should hand it over to the next generation in at least as good a state as we received it.

However, occasionally things done in the name of improving the environment can be counter-productive. A good example of this is the government's recently announced rules on Nitrogen Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). NVZs are areas within the UK where farmers have limitations placed upon them such as restrictions on spreading slurry so as to restrict the amount of nitrates in soil and water courses.

The aim of these new rules is perfectly laudable. However, as it typical of this government, these rules have been imposed in a heavy-handed way. I am very focussed on this issue as the government has recently extended the NVZ zones from 55% of the UK to 70%. Large parts of the Taunton constituency are within the expanded area. Under these new regulations farmers are forbidden to spread slurry for 22 weeks during the winter. As most farmers have only a few weeks slurry storage capacity they will have to make massive infrastructure investments to be able to stay in business. Nor has the government given a reasonable period to adjust to these new rules - early indication is that farmers within NVZs will need to be compliant with the new rules by January 2010 - less than 18 months away. Elsewhere in Europe where similar proposals have been made concessions have been made to farmers such as a longer period to comply or financial assistance to help erect new infrastructure.

I have spoken to a number of livestock farmers and many of them are seriously considering their future in the industry. Many would not be able to afford massive infrastructure costs to comply with the new rules. I cannot understand how the government believes driving many farmers out of the industry will improve the environment.

Another government created problem for farmers is that of "cost sharing" - a euphemism for getting the industry to foot most of the bill for disease outbreaks such as TB. This would not be so bad if the government hadn't dithered for so long about controlling the spread of TB.

This is all the more galling when you consider Gordon Brown has been calling on farmers to increase food production to reduce prices in stores when at the same time he is causing these problems.

Mark Formosa, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the new constituency of Taunton Deane in Somerset.