NFU Environment Forum member, Ian Waller, explains why it is in farmers’ best interest to manage water responsibly.
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At this time of year there is constant feedback over how much metaldehyde they are finding in the environment and how much it’s costing the water companies to invest in removing it. During the summer there were glyphosate spikes being found in surface waters which my wife jumped on as I had mentioned that I’d been out spraying off OSR. I know that later this year I’ll almost certainly hear about how much propyzamide and carbetamide they are seeing in the catchment areas.
I know my wife is committed to making sure that the water her company provides is compliant, and even more importantly, that their consumers have confidence in the product they supply. In many ways it is like farming – there is an end user who requires a high quality product they can trust at the least cost. Over the next five years the water industry is investing heavily in new technology to try to make certain they can supply water that is 100% compliant.
What is the farming sector doing already? EU requirements on the quality of drinking water mean that water quality is the Voluntary Initiative’s top priority. The chemical metaldehyde, which is found in slug pellets, is kept out of water courses by a stewardship programme being delivered through the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group’s “Get Pelletwise” campaign.
As an industry we need to keep improving our performance to head off the risk of losing access to vital plant protection products.
Through education, training and engaging with farmers who practice responsible use and application of pesticides the levels of metaldehyde found in water courses can be kept to the absolute minimum.
As an industry we need to keep improving our performance to head off the risk of losing access to vital plant protection products.
I hope that the work agriculture and horticulture is doing will help to deliver top quality water, otherwise there will be consequences for us all.
The Water Framework Directive requires that all water bodies have a good ecological status by 2021. In the Thames River Basin Management plan, which covers the Chilterns where I farm, at the start of 2015, only 23 per cent of surface waters were classified as ‘good or better’ ecological status and only 35 per cent of groundwater bodies were at ‘good’ status. It looks as though we have a long way to go but there does appear to be a strong partnership at a catchment level and the water companies appear to be doing a lot to help support the work. If you haven’t already seen the River Basin Management action plans for your area, I’d suggest you take a look.