Quite simply, soil is a farmer’s greatest asset. No farmer wants to see the deterioration or depletion of their soil. Good soil health is central to productivity and feeding the nation. Good soil health is key to building our resilience to events, such as floods and droughts. If you're doing the job right your soil quality and health should remain sustainable into the future.
That’s why farmers across the country were deeply disappointed to hear Mr Gove’s recent comments about soils and soil fertility. Many farmers, like me, just do not recognise his views that farmers have ‘drenched’ soils in chemicals. Defra’s own department data shows farmers are actually using less chemicals: 31% less nitrogen fertiliser and 55% less phosphate fertiliser and 50% less active ingredient in pesticides than in 1990. Neither do I recognise the need to put timelines on soil fertility – for example, I have helped to transform my soils by bringing back a livestock rotation.
Perhaps more disappointing, however, was the fact that Mr Gove gave no recognition to the work that farmers have done and are doing to conserve and enhance our soils, all the while producing food. Over the past few years, we have seen an increasing interest in and the uptake of techniques such as cover cropping and minimum tillage. We have also seen substantial engagement in schemes such as agri-environment, Catchment Sensitive Farming and the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, supporting farmers to put the right environmental measures in the right place, alongside producing food. Above all, the awareness amongst farmers about the importance of investing in our soil health must be at an all-time high.
The NFU sees good soil health as a key element of any new Domestic Agricultural Policy in future, helping deliver dual benefits for our productivity and for public goods, such as carbon and soil biodiversity. If I do agree with Mr Gove it is that we must also invest in education because science and research, and skills and training, are important parts of the solution to boosting our productivity and reducing our environmental footprint.
Minette Batters, NFU Deputy President