Continued access to abstracted water at a minimised environmental impact will be vital for boosting future food production to meet the challenges ahead.
That was the message from the NFU following the publication of its water survey results for 2011, which show just how important water is to all farm businesses.
Hundreds of farmers and growers throughout the UK have explained how they are using resources responsibly, what steps they are taking to conserve water and how they will tackle challenges in the future. This includes using run off from greenhouse roofs, increasing capacity of reservoirs and plans to improve water efficiency in coming years.
Farmers and growers are making these efforts despite the fact that only one per cent of the total amount of water abstracted is used by the agricultural sector in England and Wales.
NFU water policy adviser Jenny Bashford warned that October 2010 to September 2011 was the driest 12 months on record for many areas of Britain, reflected in Anglian Water’s announcement this week it had applied for a winter drought permit.
Miss Bashford added that if the autumn and winter saw below average rainfall then the effect on agriculture could be significant next year. And with government set to publish its White Paper on water next month, the results of the survey could not be more timely.
NFU Vice President Gwyn Jones said: “There is no doubt that agriculture faces an enormous challenge when it comes to water use, as evidenced by some of the drought conditions earlier this year.
“The survey results show that the majority of farmers are taking action to increase their water efficiency.
“However, while the results make fascinating reading, it is a timely reminder that everyone must take this issue seriously.
“With government set to announce proposals for a new long-term abstraction framework in its Water White Paper, as well as changes to the way Ofwat sets water company prices, the NFU will be looking for a number of measures to be addressed to tackle the very real challenges going forward.”
The NFU’s water survey is carried out every five years (quinquennial).
Get our 2011 survey results here.
The NFU continues to promote water efficiency among its members. In addition, we’d like to see:
- Support for the use of voluntary abstraction restrictions and abstraction management in catchments.
- A transparent, consistent but flexible delivery approach by the Environment Agency in relation to the regulation of abstraction licences.
- A restoration of the threshold for the ‘large’ category of reservoir to be defined as 25,000m3, to encourage the building of more on farm storage.
- More R&D into drought tolerant plant varieties and on-farm demonstrations of new, more efficient irrigation technologies.
- Investment incentives, such as appropriate exemptions, tax incentives and grants to encourage the use of water efficient irrigation technology such as drip and computerised irrigation systems.
- Water companies that have, and abide by, a Code of Practice, when drawing up drought orders.
Some key stats from the NFU water survey:
- The volume of water used is largely (but not exclusively) driven by farm type and location.
- The majority of farmers and growers use small amounts of water (less than 20 m3 a day).
- 71% of respondents use mains water from the public water supply.
- 16% said they own or had access to a reservoir.
- 18% irrigate their crops.
- 40% of water needed to irrigate was abstracted before the season started.
- 55% have limits on their licence which means under certain condition they will not be allowed to abstract water.
Visit our water channel here.
- Chris Dockree - 21/02/2012
In light of current water shortages, NFU members may want to be made aware of the Code of Practice employed by water companies?
Code of Practice and Guidance on Water Use Restrictions (11/WR/33/3) http://www.ukwir.org/ukwirlibrary/93994
- Stacey Contracts - 18/11/2011
Very interesting survey. Stats show 71% from mains water(processed) only 16% from reservoirs. Surely time that DEFRA re-instated the lost grant for reservoirs NOW.This country needs more food from less land.Thankgoodness farmers aren't like politicians..Decisions?? [OK self interest but relevant!]