Agri Environmental Schemes

Question 0

Give examples of regulatory measures

Answer 0

• cross compliance

- nitrate vulnerable zones

Question 1

Name the four types of measures used in agri management (think pyramid)

Answer 1

1) targeted incentives
2) voluntary approaches
3) advice and guidance
4) baseline regulation

Question 2

What requirements do farmers need to meet if they are within NVZs?

Answer 2

• no more than 170kg nitrogen /ha
• record application for last 5yrs
• don’t exceed max N limit for crop application
• closed periods (3-5 months)
• no spreading w/i 10m of watercourse, 50m for wells boreholes springs

Question 3

Financial incentives for farmers

Answer 3

• environmentally sensitive areas (halvergate)
  7.5M ha in England, 9.3M ha in UK
  Environmental stewardship : entry level and higher level

Question 4

Examples of entry level measures

Answer 4

• Tackle source : reduce erosion, undersown spring cereals, manage maize crops and cover crop over winter
• limit mobilisation
• protect receptor : fence watercourses, buffer strips etc, last resort though

Question 5

Water companies and agri schemes

Answer 5

Upstream thinking

Question 6

Can you name the 5 policy levels and their corresponding delivery mechanisms and measures? (Think pyramid)

Answer 6

1. Prosecution - pollution prevents regulations
2. Regulation - water protection zones - control source, pathway, land use mgmt
3. Incentives - agri-env or private investment - change land use or farm infrastructure
4. Advice - catchment sensitive farming - control mobilisation
5. Baseline regulation - cross compliance - control sources e.g nutrient mgmt

Question 7

DEFRA catchment based approach

Answer 7

Preparing:

1. Appoint catchment facilitator
2. Plan the program
3. Baseline activity managing
4. Stakeholder mapping
5. Develop shared evidence base

Collaboration:

1. Agree specific objectives
2. Set up catchment partnerships
3. Agree ALL measures needed
4. Write catchment plan

Question 8

Tackling diffuse pollution

Answer 8

Raising awareness:

• 72% of farmers thought only contributed a little if any to diff poll
• need to increase co ordination between the EA and stakeholders at at national level

Use incentives to change behaviour

Recognise where sanctions and regs have been ineffective at mitigating diff poll

Question 9

Wensum DTC

Answer 9

All watercourses have a 6m margin
Stubbles are left over winter
Cover crop
Precision farming