That was the message from NFU Environment Forum member, Richard Bramley, to the audience at Green Week, DG Environment’s annual environment conference in Brussels on Thursday.
In the International Year of Soils, Mr Bramley, an arable farmer from outside York, talked about the vital importance of soils and soil health to his farming business and how this underpins food production on his farm.
Richard talked about the important role that cover crops play as part of his farming rotation. Some 20-25% of his farm benefits from a cover crop. Improvements seen by Richard have included better yields and improved soil structure. Some cover crops, like Phacelia, also attract pollinators such as honeybees and bumblebees.
Richard agreed that some regulation is necessary and has been useful to improve practice, but disagreed that an EU Soils Directive is needed, arguing that a range of soil measures, including CAP cross compliance, the waste and Water Framework directives are already in place, providing good protection for soils.
Highlighting Assured Food Standards, the Voluntary Initiative and the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, Richard promoted the proactive nature of the UK farming industry and the work with stakeholders to address environmental issues.
Richard also outlined the work that he has undertaken to improve biodiversity on his farm, alongside his productive farm business. Between 2005 and 2010, a 20 % increase in farmland bird species was recorded on his farm as a result of the measures that he has undertaken.
Summing up, Richard outlined that farmers need a flexible policy framework to work within, which recognised the variability of soils, farmers’ skills and different farming systems.