What would you want from a day workshop on water issues

[AnnieT]

Hi all
So - working with an organisation that has funding to do workshops for farmers/landowners in South East - looking at water quality/ soil management/ nature based solutions - nothing new in the topics now - but we want these workshops to be useful so - if you wanted a workshop that addressed these issues - what specifically would make you think it worth attending as regards information

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

A demonstration of how to measure infiltration rate.

Discussion of riparian margin effectiveness and design.

Discussion around how to avoid compaction rather than just mitigating it with cultivation.

Soil health assessment fiance with practical demonstration.

 

[7610 super q]

Thought this was going to be about urine infections.....

 

[topground]

A free event, a decent lunch and travelling expenses.

 

[Bury the Trash]

well chilled lager on draught

 

[delilah]

A clear explanation of how ELMS will reward water course protection.

 

[David.]

Definitive guidance on autumn application of manures.
Possibly a few Nroso points, if a cursory look at point source pollution was included?

 

[spin cycle]

Thought this was going to be about urine infections.....

get thru the night without needing a pee

 

[GOODYSMATE]

get thru the night without needing a pee

Put my name down for a place on the course

 

[DrWazzock]

We have been having meetings for 30 years.
If ELMS or CS paid for 12 to 24 m buffers along the entire length of my watercourses not just lengths adjacent to sloping land then I’d put them in but my land isn’t all sloping and I’m not prepared to have discontinuous lengths here and there. So until that’s sorted out what’s the point of even more hot air and soggy sausage rolls.
I am also experimenting with flow restrictions but on my own terms. I’m not prepared to flood my land or back my drains up for more than 48 hours.

 

[pauld]

I would go to a workshop that could tell me what I could do by myself reasonably cheaply to help water quality without needing anyone's permission, being part of an enviro scheme , or claiming any grants.

A bit reminiscent of the old FWAG approach.

 

[AnnieT]

We have been having meetings for 30 years.
If ELMS or CS paid for 12 to 24 m buffers along the entire length of my watercourses not just lengths adjacent to sloping land then I’d put them in but my land isn’t all sloping and I’m not prepared to have discontinuous lengths here and there. So until that’s sorted out what’s the point of even more hot air and soggy sausage rolls.
I am also experimenting with flow restrictions but on my own terms. I’m not prepared to flood my land or back my drains up for more than 48 hours.

I fully agree - our rivers and streams are completely f...ed. And riparian margins of a decent width are vital - and it needs to be seen as essential not something half arsed, With payment rates for fencing being a third of cost currently - even fencing a narrow riparian margin is unlikely now - and I keep putting the query to farmers about how much they would accept to make wider margins - and these are progressive farmers who are doing their best - and the offering is not enough - Water companies need to step up and put their money where their mouth is

 

[Wombat]

I fully agree - our rivers and streams are completely f...ed. And riparian margins of a decent width are vital - and it needs to be seen as essential not something half arsed, With payment rates for fencing being a third of cost currently - even fencing a narrow riparian margin is unlikely now - and I keep putting the query to farmers about how much they would accept to make wider margins - and these are progressive farmers who are doing their best - and the offering is not enough - Water companies need to step up and put their money where their mouth is

and maybe they could stop discharging sewage into said rivers and streams...........

 

[AnnieT]

A demonstration of how to measure infiltration rate.

Discussion of riparian margin effectiveness and design.

Discussion around how to avoid compaction rather than just mitigating it with cultivation.

Soil health assessment fiance with practical demonstration.g

and maybe they could stop discharging sewage into said rivers and streams...........

That would be good too -

 

[AnnieT]

A clear explanation of how ELMS will reward water course protection.

Im not sure ELMs is set up to reward - more nudge.

 

[DrWazzock]

I think the CS payment rate for watercourse buffers 12-24m is reasonable but the criteria that they can only qualify for payment if adjacent to land identified on an erosion risk map puts me right off. It makes it logistically impossible for me to justify them. I’d have buffers that stopped and started along the watercourse, which aren’t practical agriculturally.
IMO any watercourse should qualify for buffers regardiess of erosion risk status of adjacent land. Win win for water and wildlife. I dint want them rotational either. Permanent native grasses. Job done. But will it ever get through? Not a chance.

 

[Wombat]

Im not sure ELMs is set up to reward - more nudge.

I wouldn't even say nudge, more insult.

 

[Wombat]

I think the CS payment rate for watercourse buffers 12-24m is reasonable but the criteria that they can only qualify for payment if adjacent to land identified on an erosion risk map puts me right off. It makes it logistically impossible for me to justify them. I’d have buffers that stopped and started along the watercourse, which aren’t practical agriculturally.
IMO any watercourse should qualify for buffers regardiess of erosion risk status of adjacent land. Win win for water and wildlife. I dint want them rotational either. Permanent native grasses. Job done. But will it ever get through? Not a chance.

the issue is the restrictiveness of it all, we have volutary buffers of about 6m alongside all running water course paid for out of BPS so basically can do what i want with them. We have moved the digger along them to clean a few ditches out, clean out a pond and tree shear some over hanging branches. In a couple of months you wouldn't know we had been down them but its Feb so on our heavy clays they leave a bit of scuffing, but its the only way to get to some areas.

 

[DrWazzock]

the issue is the restrictiveness of it all, we have volutary buffers of about 6m alongside all running water course paid for out of BPS so basically can do what i want with them. We have moved the digger along them to clean a few ditches out and tree shear some over hanging branches. In a couple of months you wouldn't know we had been down them but its Feb so on our heavy clays they leave a bit of scuffing, but its the only way to get to some areas.

We had them with ELS. Then it finished so they came out.
My Plan B is to put the buffers in unfunded and mow for hay. Starting this year anyway. I’d leave them unmowed if I was paid, in fact I’d have to to get the payment. But I’m not doing it for absolutely nothing.

 

[Flat 10]

Recognition that it's not just agriculture that's the problem.......
Water companies and Construction are as bad or worse. Looking at the whole picture.
Other industries use agchems eg railways golfcourses etc