inspections

[som farmer]

following a complaint of slurry on road, we were blessed with a full inspection by EA, he wanted to see, and photograph everything. Hope we have come out reasonably well, a referral to RPA, because we had to take some slurry out from lagoon, in nvz closed period, if we had rung them up prior, with the same reason, we would have still got a referral, a referral means you get an inspection. Our lagoon is within size, but because of the weather, and taking some out, did not have required 750 cm clearance, he calculated yard water, roof water; most of which didn't go into lagoon, so lagoon not big enough ! Luckily, we have a grant application in for gutters, cross drains, concrete in yards, so that helped. Air photo of lagoon, showed we had enlarged it, who did we take advice from, what water perculation tests did we do, what were the sides sealed with etc, council tipped 100's of tons of clay there, from a project back in the 60's, that confused him. All records of slurry spreading, how spread, amounts exported, same with fym, had in diary, so got to record them, and show him. All fert spreadins, records, we had them, and were under max. NVZ rules, you have to soil test every field, at least once every 5 yrs, didn't know that one ! 1 5 acre field not done, some ones paddock in village, and pp, so only 90% compliant on that, so we have to test, and send proof. Went all through stocking rates, class of stock, number of days housed, as we our now outwintering, he struggled with that, but fine in the end.
We did ask him, as we were on subject of tb. what would he advise, if the farmer of the arable land, we export shite to, refused to take it because of tb risk, or we were stopped from exporting it, (which is under discussion). after a bit of ho-haring, his answer would be to cull the cattle. All, in all, could have been a lot worse, what did surprise me, was the total lack of ag practices, everything by the book, he had transferred from a large urban centre.
But, my advice, keep your records up to date, most of ours were, just not quite how he wanted them, dread to think if we weren't recording it at all ! The other point, grants, because we have applied for gutters, cross drains etc, he couldn't recommend us to do it, nor could he put it down as another referral !

 

[Woolless]

Useful post for many @som farmer, I would think.

 

[Blue.]

A relation of mine was recently reported for jetting slurry,the Ea inspector only charged for the visit as they hadn't polluted.

Just shows you never know whos watching.

 

[lazy farmer]

Makes me want to give up

 

[I thats it]

Makes me want to give up

Exactly!

 

[I thats it]

I'm on first name terms with most local ea inspectors

 

[som farmer]

Makes me want to give up

quite agree, the problem was caused by a blocked council drain, which they won't deal with, needs proper jetter, so water across road, they have threaten to bill us, for scraping the verge to keep tidy, townie cow over the road wont trim her hedge, and neighbour hauling shite, with a tanker as wide as the road, he keeps splashing the verge out, cars drive through it, mud across the road, we take the blame ! we keep it pretty tidy, and clean, so must have been on a bad day !!! And yes, makes you want to sell the dairy, we could let the ground, and have a fair income, depends what happens next week, with our tb test. if clear, a lot will go, cows making good money, by end of march, we will have 100 + fresh calvers. Certainly makes you think. 85 spr I/c very xbred cows, all ages av £1105 at frome this week.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

following a complaint of slurry on road, we were blessed with a full inspection by EA, he wanted to see, and photograph everything. Hope we have come out reasonably well, a referral to RPA, because we had to take some slurry out from lagoon, in nvz closed period, if we had rung them up prior, with the same reason, we would have still got a referral, a referral means you get an inspection. Our lagoon is within size, but because of the weather, and taking some out, did not have required 750 cm clearance, he calculated yard water, roof water; most of which didn't go into lagoon, so lagoon not big enough ! Luckily, we have a grant application in for gutters, cross drains, concrete in yards, so that helped. Air photo of lagoon, showed we had enlarged it, who did we take advice from, what water perculation tests did we do, what were the sides sealed with etc, council tipped 100's of tons of clay there, from a project back in the 60's, that confused him. All records of slurry spreading, how spread, amounts exported, same with fym, had in diary, so got to record them, and show him. All fert spreadins, records, we had them, and were under max. NVZ rules, you have to soil test every field, at least once every 5 yrs, didn't know that one ! 1 5 acre field not done, some ones paddock in village, and pp, so only 90% compliant on that, so we have to test, and send proof. Went all through stocking rates, class of stock, number of days housed, as we our now outwintering, he struggled with that, but fine in the end.
We did ask him, as we were on subject of tb. what would he advise, if the farmer of the arable land, we export shite to, refused to take it because of tb risk, or we were stopped from exporting it, (which is under discussion). after a bit of ho-haring, his answer would be to cull the cattle. All, in all, could have been a lot worse, what did surprise me, was the total lack of ag practices, everything by the book, he had transferred from a large urban centre.
But, my advice, keep your records up to date, most of ours were, just not quite how he wanted them, dread to think if we weren't recording it at all ! The other point, grants, because we have applied for gutters, cross drains etc, he couldn't recommend us to do it, nor could he put it down as another referral !

We had a really productive talk from the EA last spring about soil health which was followed by a miserable bit about legislation. The general message was that if you don't bother them then they won't bother you but if you do cause an incident then for them it is just a paperwork exercise. There will be no extenuating circumstances and you will be prosecuted and fined.

I believe there are only 3 EA bodies on the ground on farms in the SW and one of them is full time in the Otter catchment.

 

[som farmer]

our chap was from chippenham, (spelling), did tell my son, where he went yesterday, slurry 6'' deep !

 

[Sid]

our chap was from chippenham, (spelling), did tell my son, where he went yesterday, slurry 6'' deep !

Lucky you didnt get the one round here! And I kid you not.

I have been having dealings with them for another farmer and it has got down to the tensile strength of the concrete blocks in the wall built 25 years ago!

 

[som farmer]

Lucky you didnt get the one round here! And I kid you not.

I have been having dealings with them for another farmer and it has got down to the tensile strength of the concrete blocks in the wall built 25 years ago!

how would he have coped with 2nd hand sleepers in 1965 ? as in our indoor pits, thankfully empty. We have to put a 18 cubic metre effluent pit, for a silage pit, 1982 vintage, from which I have never had an effluent problem ! no knowledge of real farming, straight from the book. We have a stone bottom clamp, in the yard, to continue to use that for silage, we would have to concrete the base, but fine for round bales. To be completely within the 'rules' i would think you would have to have a fairly new, ultra modern system, i am also certain that he would have shut us down if we were 'bad'. Which is fine, but as we all know, the money is not in the system, to justify spending it. Certainly, if we had 1/2 million spare, i would need some serious convincing before spending it back into farming. As my son said, our main buildings were put up in 1965, sure we have added on, over the years, and works quite well, but how long will it be, before some civil servant, or s/mkt decides they are 'no longer fit for purpose', after yesterday, not long.

 

[vantage]

how would he have coped with 2nd hand sleepers in 1965 ? as in our indoor pits, thankfully empty. We have to put a 18 cubic metre effluent pit, for a silage pit, 1982 vintage, from which I have never had an effluent problem ! no knowledge of real farming, straight from the book. We have a stone bottom clamp, in the yard, to continue to use that for silage, we would have to concrete the base, but fine for round bales. To be completely within the 'rules' i would think you would have to have a fairly new, ultra modern system, i am also certain that he would have shut us down if we were 'bad'. Which is fine, but as we all know, the money is not in the system, to justify spending it. Certainly, if we had 1/2 million spare, i would need some serious convincing before spending it back into farming. As my son said, our main buildings were put up in 1965, sure we have added on, over the years, and works quite well, but how long will it be, before some civil servant, or s/mkt decides they are 'no longer fit for purpose', after yesterday, not long.

The crux of the problem is the dairy business, while being profitable has not had enough spare cash to renew, in effect we have been living off depreciation. With the pollution regulations coming down the line, this could be the death of many businesses.

 

[Sid]

how would he have coped with 2nd hand sleepers in 1965 ? as in our indoor pits, thankfully empty. We have to put a 18 cubic metre effluent pit, for a silage pit, 1982 vintage, from which I have never had an effluent problem ! no knowledge of real farming, straight from the book. We have a stone bottom clamp, in the yard, to continue to use that for silage, we would have to concrete the base, but fine for round bales. To be completely within the 'rules' i would think you would have to have a fairly new, ultra modern system, i am also certain that he would have shut us down if we were 'bad'. Which is fine, but as we all know, the money is not in the system, to justify spending it. Certainly, if we had 1/2 million spare, i would need some serious convincing before spending it back into farming. As my son said, our main buildings were put up in 1965, sure we have added on, over the years, and works quite well, but how long will it be, before some civil servant, or s/mkt decides they are 'no longer fit for purpose', after yesterday, not long.

I agree, this inspector picks up on the minute details like using old sleepers. Any that look like they are rotten. Very frustrating!