Clear solutions for farmers
The England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI) is based on voluntary action by farmers. Results so far have shown those taking part have helped to reduce the impact of farming on the environment in general, and water in particular, and as a consequence more farmers are being encouraged to become involved. It’s important to acknowledge that the more farmers participate voluntarily in the ECSFDI now, the less likely legislation will be in the coming years.
Within the first two years of the ECSFDI, over 6,000 farmers have met with environmental advisers through group events and one-to-one farm visits. As a result, many are taking steps to change working practices.
However, as this figure represents about 15% of farms in the catchments, advisers are working to ensure that more farmers get involved.
Defra is investing £12.9m in the initiative in the 2008-09 period, and again in 2009-2010 (exact dates will be confirmed soon). This money funds advisers and technical support for activities such as nutrient management planning, soil testing and machinery calibration. Of this total – and for the second year running – £5m has been made available as capital grants. The grants typically match individual farmers’ contributions, with up to £10,000 available per farm for items selected for their potential to reduce pollution in a given geographical area (see case studies).
This year’s grant application window is now closed, but the 2009-10 scheme should open for applications early next year.
This autumn sees the recruitment of five more CSF Officers (who will join the existing network of 42 Officers), as well as new Regional Co-ordinators to enhance delivery. This is all good news for farmers and growers, not least because the one-to-one farm visits – deemed of great use by those already taking part – can continue. Other developments include 10 new priority catchments being added to the original 40 (some of which are being extended) as well as a new Strategic Partnership Programme which aims to support the initiative in several additional catchments.
What do the farm visits involve?
A network of CSF Officers, employed by Natural England or the Environment Agency, provide advice, training, technical support and, if required, help with capital grant applications in Priority Catchments.
Through on-farm visits, demonstrations and workshops, officers, or specialist contractors acting on their behalf, can advise on low cost methods of pollution control including clean and dirty water separation, soil testing, calibrating spreaders, and testing manure and slurry. Many of these contribute to a more efficient and economical use of nutrients. These practices can also help meet certain requirements of the nitrates directive. Activities such as regular soil testing can identify land that already has high levels of nutrients, meaning savings can be made through lower applications of fertiliser.
Industry perspective
David Cliffe from the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), one of 11 specialist contractors supporting delivery of the programme, says: “In terms of solid action on diffuse water pollution, the CSF programme has increased in scope year on year – with more farmers involved, more on-farm visits, and so on. It’s pleasing to see real benefits to farmers and the environment, particularly through the management of soils.
“Workshops and farm demonstrations tend to be the first point of contact, with farm-specific advice delivered through one-to-one meetings. We’ve got some good working relationships in place, which we hope to build on.”
Adding to this, Andrew Clark, Head of Policy Services at the NFU, says: “The ECSFDI has demonstrated real benefits in the short period that it has been working – showing just how important local advice and small-scale capital spend can be. We believe the only way we can achieve the requirements of the Water Directive Framework is through voluntary and targeted approaches that aim to deliver local solutions for local problems.
For full examples of farmer involvement with the ECSFDI for use by farmers, agricultural colleges, agronomists and water companies.
CSF case studies
Case study 1
River Wyre Catchment, Lancashire
There are numerous dairy farms in this area, which are potentially a source of diffuse pollution due to the high phosphate applications from slurry and inorganic fertilisers. Local CSF Officer Richard Rhodes (above) is working with contractors and farmers to test soil in 500 fields in the catchment, offering free soil sampling and subsequent fertiliser recommendations. This is helping to reduce pollution levels in the region’s watercourses, and also saves farmers money through the reduction of fertiliser use.
Andy Clarke, whose Sea Mark Farm falls partly within the catchment, says: “We normally use 27.5.5 compound fertiliser, but the soil analysis showed high phosphorus levels in the soil so this year we have purchased straight nitrate, reducing our fertiliser bill by about £1,500.”
Case study 2
Aylor’s Down Farm, Devon
A series of case studies undertaken for the ECSFDI highlighted the farm business benefits of catchment sensitive farming. One of these looked at Taylor’s Down Farm. During 2006, over £26,000 was invested in roofing over an outside feeding area for Alistair Vanstone’s (above) 175 cows. The project enclosed 1,035 m2 of yard, preventing an estimated 1,475 m3 of rainwater that would have previously entered the dirty water system. This has saved £1,400 in spreading and irrigation costs.
Enclosing the feeding area has reduced feed wastage and improved animal health. The consistency of feed intakes (with rain now kept out of the feeding troughs) means the cows have been less prone to displaced abomasums, with five fewer cases in the 2006-07 winter (saving over £1,000). Before the roof was added, rolling annual yield per cow stood at 7,750 litres. With improved housing and feeding facilities on herd health, the herd reached 8,250 litres per cow, worth over £11,500 in extra herd margin.
Case study 3
Bakewell Market, Peak District
Peak District CSF Officer, Bob Marsden (left), says: “Prior to the CSF initiative, farmers in the Peak District Dales attended few workshops, ELS uptake was poor and there were high rates of cross compliance failure. But since we started the weekly drop-in centre at Bakewell Market we’ve advised over 300 farmers. Successes include completing 70 CSF grant applications, which were all approved; analysing 26 slurry samples and registering over 100 agricultural waste exemptions – all with the farmers on-site.”
The service, which is soon to extend to Leek Market on Tuesdays, has gone down well with local farmers: Andrew Etches from Earl Sterndale, says: “I was impressed with the level of knowledge of the staff – they weren’t students just out of college.” Jane Gibbs from Hartington adds: “Those forms would have taken me all day, but only took 10 minutes with an expert, with no stress.”
Case study 4
Pevensey Levels, East Sussex
Rickney Farm, 120 hectares of grassland and ditch systems, lies within the Pevensey Levels Site of Special Scientific Interest. The number of wintering lapwings in the area has regularly exceeded 1% of the total British population. The main issue identified on the land was possible diffuse pollution into surrounding ditches from a worn concrete yard, as well as some gateway and ditch bank poaching.
Working through the ECSFDI, a successful application was submitted for over 200 m2 of concrete yard renewal (CSF014a, Yard works for clean and dirty water separation) and 65m of sheep netting (CSF003a, Watercourse fencing). As part of far-reaching environmental plans, the farmer also instigated (and funded) a new reed bed for the treatment and filtration of dirty water before it entered the ditch system.
CSF soil management
Catchment Sensitive Farming: some management tips for farmers:
- Where soil wash and erosion is high risk, drill crops early, at higher seed rates and into rough seedbeds to avoid local flooding and water pollution.
- Avoid rolling late-drilled crops or grazing late into the season to reduce soil compaction.
- Routinely test soils for mineral nitrogen to help match inorganic nitrogen application to crop requirement, thereby reducing the levels of fertiliser added to the land.
- Take regular soil samples to assess P and K levels. This can help guide nutrient planning, thereby avoiding unnecessary ‘top dressing’ and risk of reduced returns.
- Save outgoings on nitrogen by applying slurry and dirty water in the spring when crops can benefit from it most. Savings on artificial phosphates and potash are also possible if manure content is well managed.
- MOT your sprayer via the National Sprayer Testing Scheme to maximise efficiency, improve disease, weed and pest control, reduce downtime and provide evidence for crop assurance schemes.
- Use low drift nozzles (bubble jets or air induction nozzles) to reduce spray buffer zones and protect crop yield where Local Environment Risk Assessment for Pesticides (LERAPs) apply.
- Compare sprayer nozzle flow rates every 500ha. If they vary by 10% or more, replace them to protect the crops and to avoid the need for additional sprays.
- Walk fields after heavy rains to identify points of poor drainage. Note areas of standing water – from blocked ditches, outfalls lying below water, subsoil compaction or surface pans – and seek to address the causes.
- Please contact your CSF Officer for further information.
Page last modified: 29 December 2008
Page published: 7 November 2008