Field ploughing for flood prevention

[crazy_bull]

Here’s one for you!

a customer has been written to, to demand he ploughs his field at 90 degrees to the slope (standard)......
The field in question is linseed stubble destined to be direct drilled when the weather permits......
He had been written too by the local flood prevention department of the county council!!! To slow the water from running off the hill and over welming the ditches...

There is also a footpath running straight up the hill that due to COVID walkers is now 15m wide and panned to hell that runs like a river down the slope, out the footpath gate and down the road flooding someone’s house.....

Doesn’t this kinda go against everything ag is trying to do at the moment.... should he do it and just bill them for the work?
Thoughts??? 36mm rain in 24hrs and 50mm in 24hrs don’t help!!

C B

 

[teslacoils]

Rent the council the field at £300/AC.

 

[Flat 10]

Here’s one for you!

a customer has been written to, to demand he ploughs his field at 90 degrees to the slope (standard)......
The field in question is linseed stubble destined to be direct drilled when the weather permits......
He had been written too by the local flood prevention department of the county council!!! To slow the water from running off the hill and over welming the ditches...

There is also a footpath running straight up the hill that due to COVID walkers is now 15m wide and panned to hell that runs like a river down the slope, out the footpath gate and down the road flooding someone’s house.....

Doesn’t this kinda go against everything ag is trying to do at the moment.... should he do it and just bill them for the work?
Thoughts??? 36mm rain in 24hrs and 50mm in 24hrs don’t help!!

C B

Call the footpath officers. Tell the council to shove it and share it with defra. Paying him to make a silt trap at the bottom of the hill makes most sense.

 

[76masseyman]

Get permission to close the path ?

 

[Dry Rot]

Ask them to re-confirm the request with (a) a copy of the recommendation in writing from a named qualified professional, (b) a map of the specific area, (c) a copy of the legislation requiring you to carry out the work, (d) confirmation that the council will (i) pay for the work and (ii) compensate you for the loss of the crop, and (iii) refund you the costs of the disruption to your farming program. I am sure TFF will be able to think of a few more costs, including the lease of the land "acquired" by walkers adjacent to and widening the designated footpath.

Two rules when dealing with civil servants. (I) always get it in writing and (2) make them state their sources. If you can set one government department against another, that qualifies for bonus points.

 

[76masseyman]

I bet if the farmer in question was to clean out the ditch that is being overwhelmed, he’d be in trouble for helping.
River Lugg comes to mind.

 

[Cjm]

Just plough the footpath up. Win, win!

 

[Brisel]

Here’s one for you!

a customer has been written to, to demand he ploughs his field at 90 degrees to the slope (standard)......
The field in question is linseed stubble destined to be direct drilled when the weather permits......
He had been written too by the local flood prevention department of the county council!!! To slow the water from running off the hill and over welming the ditches...

There is also a footpath running straight up the hill that due to COVID walkers is now 15m wide and panned to hell that runs like a river down the slope, out the footpath gate and down the road flooding someone’s house.....

Doesn’t this kinda go against everything ag is trying to do at the moment.... should he do it and just bill them for the work?
Thoughts??? 36mm rain in 24hrs and 50mm in 24hrs don’t help!!

C B

Your friend needs to take legal advice ASAP. Fight fire with fire.

A drainage grip at the bottom would be the best temporary solution if the contours permit to at least slow the water down and drop any sediment loading.

Whoever is downstream has to take the flow.

 

[Old Spot]

Morons!

 

[DaveGrohl]

My policy when dealing with muppets is to ignore them.

 

[steveR]

Here’s one for you!

a customer has been written to, to demand he ploughs his field at 90 degrees to the slope (standard)......
The field in question is linseed stubble destined to be direct drilled when the weather permits......
He had been written too by the local flood prevention department of the county council!!! To slow the water from running off the hill and over welming the ditches...

There is also a footpath running straight up the hill that due to COVID walkers is now 15m wide and panned to hell that runs like a river down the slope, out the footpath gate and down the road flooding someone’s house.....

Doesn’t this kinda go against everything ag is trying to do at the moment.... should he do it and just bill them for the work?
Thoughts??? 36mm rain in 24hrs and 50mm in 24hrs don’t help!!

C B

I can understand the rationale, but...

It sounds as if the FP erosion is contributing to the problem bigtime and should be pointed out to the Officers.

demand..... On what grounds can the Council dictate such an action??

Have the Council indicated the legislation that they are invoking?

 

[steveR]

Your friend needs to take legal advice ASAP. Fight fire with fire.

A drainage grip at the bottom would be the best temporary solution if the contours permit to at least slow the water down and drop any sediment loading.

Whoever is downstream has to take the flow.

As I know to my cost, having spend 2 days clearing a ditch underneath a field of harvested turf...

 

[steveR]

Ask them to re-confirm the request with (a) a copy of the recommendation in writing from a named qualified professional, (b) a map of the specific area, (c) a copy of the legislation requiring you to carry out the work, (d) confirmation that the council will (i) pay for the work and (ii) compensate you for the loss of the crop, and (iii) refund you the costs of the disruption to your farming program. I am sure TFF will be able to think of a few more costs, including the lease of the land "acquired" by walkers adjacent to and widening the designated footpath.

Two rules when dealing with civil servants. (I) always get it in writing and (2) make them state their sources. If you can set one government department against another, that qualifies for bonus points.

The Council will cover all the costs incurred by the Farmer from taking professional advice on the matter, including valuation work and scrutiny of the Council's proposal.

 

[Highland Mule]

Ask them to re-confirm the request with (a) a copy of the recommendation in writing from a named qualified professional, (b) a map of the specific area, (c) a copy of the legislation requiring you to carry out the work, (d) confirmation that the council will (i) pay for the work and (ii) compensate you for the loss of the crop, and (iii) refund you the costs of the disruption to your farming program. I am sure TFF will be able to think of a few more costs, including the lease of the land "acquired" by walkers adjacent to and widening the designated footpath.

Two rules when dealing with civil servants. (I) always get it in writing and (2) make them state their sources. If you can set one government department against another, that qualifies for bonus points.

Loss of soil carbon to atmosphere as a result of ploughing before (direct) drilling. That should be easy to value against carbon credit rates.

 

[yellow belly]

ploughing it would most likly lead to a massive loss of soil when they get heavy rain at any time till there is a fully established crop irespective of which way they plough

even if the field was in permenant grass the run off of water would still happen

 

[Badshot]

I'd show them the infiltration tests of cultivated ground as opposed to direct drilled.
And insist on a site visit to see the water running off it, and if it is just the footpath tell them to close the footpath off in future years to mitigate against future arisings.


The only time I've had trouble with water runoff was on a field that was ploughed, worked down finely for grass seed, and rolled.
3 inches of rain in a couple days had lots of runoff occurring.

Never had an issue since going DD, except that the water goes through to the drains very quickly now so goes down stream very quickly too.

I don't believe they have powers to insist on him ploughing, especially if it's an overwintered stubble or similar.

 

[Barleymow]

Probably too wet to plough it

 

[Wombat]

What happens if you don;t own a plough?

 

[Brisel]

I'd show them the infiltration tests of cultivated ground as opposed to direct drilled.
And insist on a site visit to see the water running off it, and if it is just the footpath tell them to close the footpath off in future years to mitigate against future arisings.


The only time I've had trouble with water runoff was on a field that was ploughed, worked down finely for grass seed, and rolled.
3 inches of rain in a couple days had lots of runoff occurring.

Never had an issue since going DD, except that the water goes through to the drains very quickly now so goes down stream very quickly too.

I don't believe they have powers to insist on him ploughing, especially if it's an overwintered stubble or similar.

Technically, soil erosion could be seen as a cross compliance issue. I’d be reviewing my Soil Management Plan that RT insists on. There, that should get a reaction...!

 

[Flat 10]

Can you get paid to put in swales or something across the slope in mid tier?