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Campaign to cut farm river pollution

- 21 August 1997
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21 August 1997

Campaign to cut farm river pollution


By FWi staff

FARMERS in six river catchment areas will be targeted under a Government initiative designed to reduce farm waste polluting water courses.

The initiative will target:

  • the Rivers Leith, Lowther and Lyvennet in Cumbria;
  • the Hull Headwaters in Humberside; the River Dane in Cheshire;
  • the Rivers Onny and Corve in Shropshire;
  • the Isle, the Fivehead and the Yarty in Somerset; and
  • the River Waldon and the Upper Torridge in Devon.

    The campaign, costing about £330,000, will encourage farmers in these catchment areas to prepare their own farm waste management plans. Farmers participating in the scheme will receive free consultation advice on the preparation of such plans.

    Farmers will be required to come up with their own management plans for the spreading of manure and other similar organic wastes on land in the most economical and environmentally friendly way.

    Junior farm minister Elliot Morley said he was encouraged by the continuing fall in the number of major water pollution incidents arising from agriculture.

    “This clearly shows that farmers are not only increasingly aware of their environmental responsibilities, but are also taking the appropriate actions,” he said.

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