Crockway Farms Ltd, Drummers Farming Limited, and Crutchley Farms Partnership, all based in Dorset, were found by the Environment Agency to have breached regulations intended to protect nearby watercourses.
In two cases, mismanaged slurry stores led to pollution, while a third farm installed new slurry facilities without the required environmental permit.
All three businesses accepted enforcement undertakings, which allow them to avoid prosecution by funding environmental projects.
Drummers Farming Limited is a farm near Sherborne (Image: Environment Agency)
They have since taken steps to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
David Womack, senior environment officer at the Environment Agency, said: “Slurry regulations protect people and the environment.
“It is essential everyone follows the rules.
“If a farmer is concerned about their slurry storage or environmental compliance, get in touch with us.
“We are ready to lend support and advice.
“We’d rather be approached earlier rather than later, after an environmental incident has happened.”
Each of the farms made a donation to charity as part of their enforcement undertaking.
Drummers Farming Limited, located near Sherborne, contributed £10,000 to Dorset Wildlife Trust for the Winfrith and Tadnoll Wetland Restoration Project.
The farm was linked to two pollution incidents in spring 2024, when slurry entered the Leigh Tributary of the Beer Hackett Stream during the night.
Downstream impacts were recorded for over 1.2 miles, and laboratory analysis of water samples collected during the Environment Agency investigation showed levels of ammonia which could be lethal to aquatic life.
Changes have been put in place to reduce future risk, including a significant investment in slurry storage, removing an overflow pipe and better monitoring the use of slurry.
Crutchley Farms Partnership donated £7,500 to the Dorset Wildlife Trust for a trees and wetland project.
The company was traced to a pollution incident in Mangerton Brook in October 2023, after a pump failure caused slurry to overflow into the stream.
Crutchley Farms Partnership (Image: Environment Agency)
The pollution left a foul odour and visible sewage fungus, with ecological damage found over 800 m downstream.
Preventative measures now include daily checks and a text-based warning system.
Crockway Farms Ltd, an intensive pig farm, donated £16,000 to the Farm and Wildlife Advisory Group South West.
The donation followed the installation of two new slurry stores without an environmental permit, which is required to assess emissions and effluent risks.