CSF and EA Officers Working Together Downs Farm, Amberley
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CSF and EA Officers working together Downs Farm, Amberley Arun and Western Rother Catchment (41) B2126 B2130 B2127 Capel Hambledon CSFO: Greg Howarth Wormley Cranleigh A29 B2128 Dunsfold SURREY HAMPSHIRE A286 A24 Chiddingfold A325 Warnham A287 A264 Selborne A281 B3006 A3 HASLEMERE A283 B2131 Loxwood Upper HORSHAM Greatham Liphook Ifold Arun A264 B2133 Mannings Northchapel WEST Heath Fernhurst SUSSEX Liss B2110 Milland Wisborough B2115 Farm Description Steep A3 Green Southwater B2070 Western Billingshurst A24 A272 Rogate Rother A281 A286 Lodsworth A272 A272 A272 Stedham As small scale dairy farm, NVZ regulations on River R other A272 A29 PETERSFIELD B2133 MIDHURST Petworth A283 Buriton B2146 slurry storage and closed periods are going South Harting Pulborough A286 over 250m B2146 Cocking 200-250m B2141 A285 Graffham West Chiltington 150-200m to be difficult to comply with for farmer Paul Coldwaltham B2139 100-150m Common 50-100m Storrington 0-50m A283 Bury Height above sea due to the lack of money available for the level in metres B2139 R i v A24 er Arun & Western Rother Catchment Area A29 Ar huge investment and improvements in farm A284 u n Arun & Western Rother Target Area Findon 0 5km A280 County/Unitary Authoritary boundary A27 infrastructure needed. Downs Farm was Walberton Arundel A27 Railway with station B2233 A259 identified by the local Environment Agency Yapton Based upon Ordnance Survey material on behalf of HMSO. WORTHING c Crown copyright and database right 2009. All rights reserved. LITTLEHAMPTON Natural England OS licence number 100022021 agricultural officer as being high risk for non- BOGNOR REGIS compliance with NVZ regulations with only temporary slurry storage and therefore the necessity to spread slurry every few days. New and permanent slurry storage is required as well as a general improvement in the farm Downs Farm has a mixed enterprise including yard infrastructure in order to manage clean a dairy unit of 140 cows along with 75 suckler and dirty water effectively to comply with NVZ cows, 100 Holstein steers and some arable regulations and reduce diffuse agricultural production. The farm yard its self is located high pollution. The farm has a manure management up on the chalk of the South Downs and the plan and risk map in place, but with only farm land includes the majority of Amberley temporary slurry storage on the farm, the Wild Brooks SSSI in the Arun Valley below. farmer may be forced to spread during high risk conditions, increasing the risk of water pollution occurring. Pollution Issues Concerns were raised by the Environment Officer to the CSFO about Downs Farm regarding the lack of slurry storage, and also the impact that the silage clamps directly on the chalk might be having on the local ground water quality. Due to the unusual nature of the farm, with a sensitive SSSI wetland in the valley and a chalk based farm yard high on the South Downs, a solution to infrastructure issues such as building slurry storage has been difficult to resolve for Downs Farm. Pollution Solutions Farmer Engagement and Motivation An infrastructure audit and report has been Paul first engaged with Catchment provided free through Catchment Sensitive Sensitive Farming when he attended a Farming and offers 3 potential solutions and Soil Management Workshop in February their cost/benefit to the infrastructure issues at 2009. He filled in a postcard given to him at Downs Farm. These solutions include a cost/ the workshop and the CSFO subsequently benefit analysis of the best slurry storage contacted him. It was apparent to the CSFO on method for the farm and calculations to the phone to Paul and also to the Environment show how improved clean and dirty water Officer, Emma on a farm visit that Paul saw separation can reduce the burden of NVZ compliance with NVZ regulations as a huge requirements. This report has proved an obstacle to Downs Farm, and potentially the invaluable decision making tool for Paul, end of their business in the dairy industry. especially as it has given him access to a specialist to discuss ideas with, something Paul would now like to continue improving the which the Environment Agency would not have infrastructure on his farm and will maintain his been able to offer. engagement with Catchment Sensitive Farming. He is attending a nutrient The work of Catchment Sensitive Farming management workshop in the Autumn and has and the Environment Agency have similar requested a meeting with the CSFO and Emma objectives and this case study exemplifies (EA) to agree on the best way forward the importance of joint working between both in terms of NVZ regulations and diffuse the two organisations in order to improve agricultural pollution reduction. water quality. Although the Environment Agency is a regulator, here the advisory role of Catchment Sensitive Farming has acted to compliment the regulation of the Environment Agency to the benefit of both Downs Farm and the Environment. This case study is also an example of how confidence and trust can be built between farmers and the Environment Agency’s Officers. Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) Greg Howarth Natural England, Worthing 07785 721214 [email protected] Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) is delivered in partnership by Natural Funding is from the European Agricultural England, the Environment Fund for Rural Development: Europe Agency and Defra. investing in rural areas..