Farmers across Devon and Cornwall say their businesses could suffer when new EU legislation is introduced next year.

The regulations would mean that agricultural waste would have to be disposed of by a registered contractor, putting an end to common practices such as stockpiling, burying or burning.

Burial of fallen stock will be stopped. Farmers are expecting to be charged �17 for disposal of a sheep and �75 for a cow.

But farmers say although they support the sentiment behind the regulations, their farms could suffer as a result of the extra bureaucracy, and they want payment for the paperwork.

Farmers will be charged �15 for each dead sheep

A consultation period is expected to start in the spring and the new regulations are expected to start in the autumn.

Kevin Ward of the Environment Agency in Devon, said: "The waste from farms is no different from other waste produced by households and industry.

"It seems wrong that those wastes should not be included in the controls that we have.

It is overkill in terms of bureaucracy and cost with regard to the potential risk Mike Ellingham, NFU

"The reason for that is that waste on farms tends to be buried or burned and we know now that those practices are becoming less and less acceptable."

Mike Ellingham, regional technical advisor for the NFU, said: "It is yet another piece of legislation which one can understand, but is overkill in terms of bureaucracy and cost with regard to the potential risk."

The Environment Agency says it is aware of the potential problems and is trying to cause as little disruption as possible. Farmers could be compensated for the paperwork.

But Neill Parrish, an MEP for the South West, and himself a farmer, said: "I don't see it happening.

"There are environmental benefits from these proposals.

"But there will be more bureaucracy for farmers, and no extra money."