Mark Ireland
Mark Ireland
Mark Ireland farms with
his father and brother at
Grange Farm, North
Rauceby, Lincs. Sugar beet
and barley are the core
crops on the 1004ha (2481
acres) heathland unit
PROGRESS in the past month, like many others, has been all too frequently interrupted by the weather.
In hindsight, it was a good decision to begin drilling into dry seedbeds during the first week of September. Now, as every belt of rain passes through, the feeling that weve been here before is beginning to grow.
Seed-beds have generally been good, resulting in quick and even establishment and much to my surprise the heavier land is reasonably free of slugs – quite a relief as the low seed rates employed a month ago look good in budgets but carry with them a higher risk.
Spraying is being hampered by wind. Cereals need a first application of cypermethrin and oilseed rape needs blackgrass and volunteers removed. Most of all we need to spray off grass fields in the nitrate sensitive area that are being brought back into arable production.
That brings me on to my next subject – Environmental Impact Assessment regulations. The government is at the second consultation stage over its proposals to extend requirements for EIAs to uncultivated and semi-natural land where it is intended to use the land for intensive agricultural purposes.
This sounds harmless enough but the implication is that in some instances the decision making for operations on parts of your own farm is taken out of your hands and put into those of the government.
One category of land potentially falling within the scope of the regulations is grassland that has not been ploughed for ten years, hence our apprehension with reference to the nitrate sensitive area grass. I assume long-term set-aside put into grass and permanent grass would also be included.
If land falls within the scope of these proposals it will mean having to justify operations such as ploughing, harrowing, reseeding and even applying fertiliser to your own fields with an environmental statement. In my opinion that is unacceptable but time is running out to have your say on this proposal. Implementation is expected early in 2002. Further details are on www.defra.gov.uk. *