'LVFODLPHU 7KHYLHZVVHWRXWDQGDQDO\VLVSUHVHQWHGDUHWKRVHRIWKHDXWKRUVDQGGRQRWQHFHVVDULO\UHSUHVHQWWKH YLHZVRIWKH&RPPLVVLRQLQJHQHUDORURIWKH(19,5210(17'* Final report for European Commission (DGXI ) Submitted by CEAS Consultants (Wye) Ltd Centre for European Agricultural Studies and The European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism Telephone: 01233 812181 Fax: 01233 813309 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DAIRY PRODUCTION IN THE EU E-mail: [email protected] CEAS 1779/BDB April 2000 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DAIRY PRODUCTION IN THE EU: PRACTICAL OPTIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FINAL REPORT 2 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DAIRY PRODUCTION IN THE EU Contents S1. Executive summary............................................................................................................................ iii 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Methodology................................................................................................................................. 1 1.3. Report structure ............................................................................................................................ 2 PART 1: DAIRY SYSTEM CLASSIFICATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT....................... 3 2. A review of dairy production in Europe ............................................................................................... 3 2.1. Production base data ..................................................................................................................... 3 2.2. Main production regions ............................................................................................................... 9 2.3. Economic and technical classification of dairy farming................................................................... 9 2.3.1. High input/output systems ...................................................................................................10 2.3.2. Low input/output systems ....................................................................................................11 2.3.3. Mountain systems.................................................................................................................12 2.3.4. Mediterranean systems.........................................................................................................13 2.3.5. Organic systems ...................................................................................................................14 2.4. Overview and trends ...................................................................................................................15 3. Description of dairying in the bio-geographical regions.......................................................................17 3.1. Atlantic region.............................................................................................................................18 3.2. Continental region.......................................................................................................................23 3.3. Mediterranean region ..................................................................................................................26 3.4. Boreal region ...............................................................................................................................30 3.5. Alpine region...............................................................................................................................32 3.6. Macronesian region .....................................................................................................................35 4. Classification of dairy farming for environmental purposes.................................................................39 4.1. The environmental perspective ....................................................................................................39 4.2. Land use categories (fodder and forage resources) ......................................................................39 4.3. A Typology of EU Dairy Systems................................................................................................42 4.4. Dairy system profiles ...................................................................................................................47 5. Main trends and environmental issues in EU dairy systems.................................................................55 5.1. The European perspective ...........................................................................................................55 5.2. Approach to the assessment ........................................................................................................55 5.3. Environmental issues and EU dairy systems .................................................................................56 5.3.1. Overview..............................................................................................................................56 5.3.2. Landscape and habitats.........................................................................................................56 5.3.3. Biodiversity...........................................................................................................................57 5.3.4. Soil.......................................................................................................................................59 5.3.5. Water ...................................................................................................................................60 5.3.6. Air........................................................................................................................................61 5.3.7. Greenhouse gases.................................................................................................................61 5.3.8. Energy consumption use of non renewable resources ...........................................................62 5.4. Trends and issues in each system .................................................................................................64 6. Agenda 2000 and the dairy sector: comments and analysis...............................................................73 6.1. Summary of reforms....................................................................................................................73 i THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DAIRY PRODUCTION IN THE EU 6.2. General implications of reforms...................................................................................................75 6.3. Implications by farm types ..........................................................................................................77 6.4. Scope for affecting the environmental impact of dairy farming....................................................78 6.5. The potential use of the typology of EU Dairy Systems...............................................................79 PART 2: PRACTICAL OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF EU DAIRY SYSTEMS..................................................................................................................................81 7. Existing measures for improving the environmental impact of EU dairy systems.................................83 7.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................83 7.2. Overview of present measures to minimise the environmental impact .........................................83 7.3. Overview of present environmental enhancement measures (Regulation 2078/92 measures) ....94 7.3.1. Overview of measures..........................................................................................................94 7.3.2. Grassland management measures .........................................................................................98 7.3.3. Rare breeds measures........................................................................................................ 101 7.4. Existing enhancement measures and environmental impact: conclusions................................... 107 8. Potential new options for improving the environmental impact of EU dairy systems ....................... 111 8.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 111 8.2. Practical options for delivering good agricultural (and environmental) practice: cross compliance across dairy production systems ....................................................................................................... 114 8.3. Practical options for delivering good agricultural (and environmental) practice: cross compliance for specific dairy production systems................................................................................................ 121 8.3.1. P1 Transhumant dairy systems .......................................................................................... 122 8.3.2. Intensive grassland (ley) systems: G1................................................................................. 123 8.3.3. Permanent grassland (lowland) systems: G2 ...................................................................... 124 8.3.4. Permanent