14 May 2013
PLAN NOW FOR WATER PROTECTION BUFFERS
Farmers, who have to rethink their rotations after the appalling winter, should consider where
permanent grass buffer strips should be sited to protect water, advises The Voluntary
Initiative.
The past six months has seen autumn drilling abandoned and crop failures as wet, cold
weather took its toll. More recently, there has been a massive increase in spring sown crops.
On many farms, long established rotations will now need to be rethought for autumn 2013.
“In the rush to rethink farm rotations, it is important to bear in mind the opportunities for
reconsidering environmental features as well as which fields will grow each crop,” says Jim
Egan of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment.
“While many will focus on optimising returns after a tough harvest in 2012 and an appalling
autumn and winter, the need to look for environmental benefits should not be overlooked.
Bare areas of land that now exist as a reminder of localised flooding may be put to better
use for cover crops or beetle banks.
“However, the need to protect water from crop protection products needs to be considered
as well.”
The VI recommends farmers place grass buffer strips at least 6m wide beside water courses
to minimise the risk of run-off, especially where autumn-applied herbicides are used on
winter oilseed rape crops, wider strips will be needed for steeper slopes and certain
products. Strips can be established across slopes to break up run off down larger fields.
“Grass buffers have been proven to significantly reduce surface run-off and so protect
watercourses,” says VI Manager Patrick Goldsworthy. “Establishing and maintaining these
buffers are an easy way for farmers to play their part in mitigating losses by surface run-off.
This will help ensure the on-going availability of important herbicides, such as carbetamide,
propyzamide and metazachlor, for profitable oilseed rape production and effective blackgrass control in many arable rotations.”
Support for buffer strips and beetle bank is available from Environmental Stewardship.
Advice on how to access funding and farming practices to protect water are available from
Catchment Sensitive Farming – www.naturalengland/csf
Full details of how to establish buffer zones and how field slopes affect recommended widths
can be found on the VI website www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1.
Grass buffer strips should be a minimum of 6m wide measured from the top of the
watercourse bank. The wider the better. Fields with slopes of more than 5% or with long runs
to the field edge may need buffers of up to 20m or more. Use a standard grass mixture or
whatever has been agreed in any stewardship plan. Where possible use different grass
species, legumes and wildflowers to benefit biodiversity.
2.
The Voluntary Initiative is a programme of measures which promotes responsible
pesticide use. It is sponsored by the Agricultural Engineers Association, Agricultural
Industries Confederation, Country Land and Business Association, Crop Protection
Association, National Association of Agricultural Contractors, the NFU, NFU Scotland and
the Ulster Farmers Union.
3.
The Crop Protection Association represents companies in the UK engaged in the
manufacture, formulation and supply of crop protection products for use in agriculture,
horticulture, forestry, home gardening, amenity, industrial, and local authorities
www.cropprotection.org.uk
4.
Catchment Sensitive Farming is a partnership project between Defra, Environment
Agency and Natural England which offers advice and support to farmers to reduce diffuse
water pollution from agriculture. For further information see www.naturalengland.org.uk/csf
5.
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) is working in partnership with The Voluntary
Initiative (VI) to promote best practice advice for farmers and advisers to reduce diffuse
water pollution from use of pesticides in agriculture
Further information
Patrick Goldsworthy, Voluntary Initiative Manager
patrick@goldsworthyassociates.com
m: 07711 416312
Issued by
Geoff Dodgson, Ware Anthony Rust
01223 272800
geoff.dodgson@war.uk.com
m: 07710 379561