A NEW BASIS certificate in soil and water management will be launched at Cereals 2004.

The new qualification has been endorsed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and aims to help farmers and advisors grapple with new environmental regulations.

The BASIS Soil and Water Management Certificate has been put together by the Association of Independent Crop Consultants and the National Soil Resources Institute.

Meeting new cross-compliance requirements of maintaining land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition will be a challenge few farmers can afford to ignore, said NSRI‘s Dick Godwin.

“To maintain GAEC, farmers will need advice and guidance to help them assess their land to identify problem areas and select measures to tackle issues such as curtailing erosion, minimising run-off and managing soil compaction,” he said.

The new certificate, which counts as one of four modules needed to qualify for the BASIS diploma in agronomy, consists of:

• Soil and Air Protection.
• Cultivation Techniques and Systems.
• Soil Water Drainage and Irrigation.
• Plant Nutrients and Fertiliser   Planning.
• The use of bulky Organic Materials to enhance crop growth and their effects on diffuse pollution.

AICC stand no: 514