Free environmental advice
UK - A new initiative will provide farmers and advisers with free practical advice to help deal with a host of environmental issues, according to ADAS.The DEFRA-funded Environment Sensitive Farming initiative addresses issues from pesticide contamination of water courses, plastics disposal to soil management, explained Andrée Carter from ADAS.
"It is a national project, but with a focus on regional issues. We want farmers and growers to understand the environmental impact of their activities and decide how they can comply with environmental requirements."
Welcoming the launch of the initiative (Feb 23), Sussex farmer Mark Weaver said cross compliance would require farmers to adopt the right mindset and focus more on environmental issues.
"The Entry Level Scheme and cross compliance are coming, but we need to be able to fit them in practically and understand what they physically mean on our farm."
On his 3,000 acre arable and beef farm, six metre field margins under the Countryside Stewardship scheme are just one example of how environmental schemes can be used efficiently, he said.
Source: FWi
25 February 2005
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