Catchment Sensitive Farming
Catchment Sensitive Farming is a pro-active approach to diffuse pollution. By reducing agricultural sources of diffuse pollution within river catchments, through land management practices, we can ensure that emissions to water are consistent with ecological requirements.
What is the Catchment Sensitive Farming Initiative?
Forty catchments across England, have been identified as priority areas for action, and will be targeted under a range of measures aimed at improving farm practices and reducing water pollution from agriculture. Newly appointed advisers will work on a one to one basis with farmers, as well as leading a series of initiatives including workshops and farm demonstrations to encourage best practice.
Why do we need the Catchment Sensitive Farming Initiative?
Pollution caused by agriculture can have serious effects on local rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters. An over-loading of nutrients lost from fields can boost the growth of algae, which in turn squeezes out plants like stoneworts and water buttercups. Oxygen levels can also become depleted, suffocating fish.
How will the Catchment Sensitive Farming Initiative help?
Through a joint initiative between Defra, Environment Agency and the Natural England partnership, dedicated advisers will soon be on hand to help farmers tackle the causes of water pollution. The £25 million two year catchment sensitive farming initiative focuses at local level and pulls together farmers, farm advisers, conservation bodies, water companies, and a wide range of other interests.
- Is my catchment in the new initiative?
- Defra press release - England catchment sensitive farming delivery initiative announced
- The Environment Agency's own catchment sensitive farming project
- Catchment Sensitive Farming in Wales
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Read our methodology paper outlining how priority catchments were identified (Acrobat, 1152KB, 1min)
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Look at our matrix to compare catchment sensitivity (MS Excel, 25KB, 30secs)
