As stewards of our countryside, farmers are passionate about maintaining and improving the environment. In particular, good and healthy soil is a farmer’s greatest asset. Farmers have an inherent interest in maintaining their soil in good condition as their livelihoods depend on fertile and productive soils.
The lessons we should learn from last winter's floods is that all areas, both urban and rural, should be acting across entire catchments to find solutions. What is needed is a balanced approach which includes:
- improving soil infiltration and reducing flows where appropriate upstream,
- reducing the impact of urban runoff through Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems,
- storing water strategically,
- and enhancing capacity in our lowland watercourses
Removing silt, vegetation and blockages from rivers, are an essential part of that mix, that should be undertaken by both flood risk management authorities and landowners depending on the scale, situation and ability to act. Trying to pin the blame of flooding on a single sector is incorrect.
Farmers have an inherent interest in maintaining their soil in good condition as their livelihood depends on fertile and productive soils. Every farmer receiving Single Payment Scheme payments must complete an annual Soil Protection Review.
This requires farmers to identify soil problems - such as erosion and compaction - and set out actions on how to address them. Farmers are also working to make continued improvements in soil management.
Soil Management Case Study
In the South West, farmers are participating in schemes such as Catchment Sensitive Farming and Soils for Profit, which provide advice and training events.