Roadmap to Improving Farm Efficiency and Profitability

 

Setting the Scene

Brian Ervine,

Environmental Policy, DARD

Roadmap to Improving Farm Efficiency & Profitability

Focus

Issues

Biodiversity

Phosphorus Surplus

Agri Land Mgt Strategy

GHG Mit and Adapt - Nitrous Oxide

– Methane

Ammonia

-Animal Housing

-Slurry storage

-Slurry spreading

Habitats Dir

Water Quality

-NAP

-WFD

Water Quality ↔ Nutrient Management Nutrients – in manures and chemical fertilisers

Nitrogen and Phosphorus – impact on water quality

Enrichment of rivers and lakes primarily by

Phosphorus is the widespread problem

Water Quality ↔ Nutrient Management

Efficient use of Nutrients:

- lowers nutrient surplus

- reduces pressures on water quality

Other Agricultural Pressures on Water:

- Point Source Pollution from farmyards

- Sedimentation

- Pesticides in some catchments

Water Quality : EU Directives

Nitrates Directive

- Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and

Phosphorus Regulations

- Reviewed every 4 years

- Current NAP 2015 – 2018

- Applies to all farms in NI

Water Quality : EU Directives

Water Framework Directive

- River Basin Management Plans

- 2nd Cycle 2015 - 2021

- NAP and Phosphorus Regulations are the basic Agricultural measure for WFD

Water Framework DirectiveObective : “Good” Ecological status for all water bodies by

2015

Water Bodies Failing WFD Good Status

Country %

NI 62

ROI * 48

Scotland 38

Wales 50

England 78

EU Average 47

* Rivers only

How does the EC see us?

Nutrient enrichment – widespread problem in NI Acknowledges good progress since NAP in 2007 Concern that intensification could cause a reverse Short of meeting WFD objectives More regulation? Tools and levers

Phosphorus Use – Chemical Fertiliser

Year Kg/P/ha

2009 2.5

2010 3.9

2011 3.0

2012 3.3

2013 4.8

2014 4.1

Incident Source 2014*

36%

22%

14%

14%

13%

1%

Farming

Other

Industry

Domestic

Northern Ireland Water

Transport

* Source NIEA - data is in draft form

Incident source 2009 – 14*

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Farm Other Industry

Domestic Northern Ireland Water Transport

* Source NIEA - data is in draft form

Water Quality – Monitoring and Reporting Data reported to EU Commission annually

NAP and WFD - review cycles

Previous reviews - positive trends

→ stable or improving water quality

→ reducing nutrient surplus

However, decline in Water Quality → Risk

Water Quality – the way forward Acknowledge problems → take action

Government and Industry → partnership approach

Voluntary action preferable to Regulation

Roadmap for farm efficiency and profitability