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 England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative

The England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI)

Introduction

The ECSFDI is part of Defra’s Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) Programme which aims to tackle DWPA in order to meet the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).  The ECSFDI also contributes to the achievement of domestic and international environmental targets, in particular 2010 PSA targets for SSSIs.  The initiative was initially rolled out in April 2006 in forty priority catchments in England, and will continue to at least 2010-11. In October 2008 an additional 10 priority catchments were added to the existing 40, and extensions were made to 7 of the existing catchments. Defra and its delivery partners for the Initiative, Natural England and the Environment Agency, have now mapped out the next stages. The main elements for 2008-09 and 2009-10 are:

  • A repeat of the 2008-09 Capital Grant Scheme in 2009-10, providing funding for farmers to make relatively low-cost infrastructure investments to tackle pollution
  • From October 2008 a further ten priority catchments have been added to the original forty. These are the key areas where changes in farm practices are being sought to reduce water pollution.
  • From October 2008 a further five dedicated Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers to join the existing network of forty two officers, and work closely with local farmers.
  • Nine new Regional Coordinators have been recruited in  2008 to enhance delivery and link the Initiative with River Basin Management Planning for the Water Framework Directive, and with other regional initiatives.
  • A new Strategic Partnership programme from October 2008 with national and regional partners outside the priority catchments.
  • Extension of agreement for technical support from the Pesticides Voluntary Initiative.

Defra provided funding of £12.9 million for the ECSFDI in 2008-09, of which £5 million is for capital grants. Funding for 2009-10 will be at the same level,  and 2010-11 will be confirmed as soon as Defra completes its business planning for that year. This is on top of expenditure from other budgets – e.g. Environmental Stewardship.

Engagement with farmers will remain the main objective of the Initiative and there will continue to be an extensive programme of farmer events and farm visits. In its first two years of operation the ECSFDI delivered advice to over 6000 farmers representing 15% of farm holdings (23% by area) within the original forty priority catchments. Advice was delivered through more than 500 group events, and over 4700 one-to- one farm visits. More than 14000 farm-specific recommendations were made for measures to tackle diffuse pollution. Over 80% of farmers receiving advice from the ECSFDI confirmed that their knowledge of water pollution had increased, and that they had taken, or were intending to take, action to tackle water pollution.

The ECSFDI is seeking to achieve reductions in diffuse water pollution from agriculture by encouraging CSF.  This is land management that keeps diffuse emissions of pollutants to levels that are consistent with the ecological sensitivity and uses of rivers, groundwaters and other aquatic habitats, both in the immediate catchment and further downstream.  In terms of farmer behaviours and practices (PDF 90 KB), CSF includes encouraging best practice in the use of fertilisers, manures and pesticides; promoting good soil structure to maximise infiltration of rainfall and minimise run-off and erosion; protecting watercourses from faecal contamination (e.g. with fencing and livestock crossings), and from sedimentation and pesticides (e.g. with buffer strips); reducing stocking density or grazing intensity; reverting to grassland etc.

The key elements of the ECSFDI include:

  • Partnership working between Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency.
  • A network of Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers (CSFOs) responsible for individual catchments, co-ordinated at River Basin District level with the assistance of Regional Co-ordinators.
  • Catchment Steering Groups involving local stakeholders, including water companies; farm advice deliverers like FWAG, conservation bodies such as Rivers and Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, National Trust; farming organisations such as NFU, CLA, LEAF and especially farmers.
  • Support for Strategic partnerships in 16 catchments other than the 50 priority catchments.
  • Technical support from Pesticides Voluntary Initiative in catchments where there are pesticide issues.  Other technical support from ADAS and Westcountry Rivers Trust.

Further information

You can order further copies on 08459 55 6000 or by email: defra@cambertown.com.
Defra are aware of a number of past and present projects aimed at reducing DWPA.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs