More work to be done to avoid further floods
More work to be done to avoid further floods
GOOD farming practice makes environmental sense and could save producers £1000s, according to the Environment Agency.
Speaking at the MGA conference, Environment Agency adviser Richard Smith told delegates that the agency had no conflict with producers who were observing good agricultural practice, but more could be done.
"Flooding has caused terrible problems this winter, but this hasnt just been due to wet weather. Unless soil compaction is dealt with, flooding will continue to be a problem."
Work done at IGER shows that chisel ploughing maize ground produces only 1 litre/ha (0.4 litres/acre) of run off compared with stubble, which produced 228 litres/ha (92 litres/acre). "This is the difference between water and soil pouring out of the field gate and virtually no run off," said Mr Smith.
Reducing slurry volume could also help reduce run-off as well as bringing cost savings, he explained. "Often slurry spreading is done in wet conditions because there is inadequate storage capacity, but clean water is not separated." *