Action 48
"The Executive will work with the industry and the
Scottish Environment Protection Agency to develop
cost-effective approaches to help farmers tackle water
pollution and waste, for example through the development of
DIY farm pollution prevention and waste management
planning."
Progress
The Four Point Plan, launched by the Executive in
November 2002, provides straightforward guidance for
livestock farmers on how to minimise pollution and benefit
their businesses. A new edition was published in March
2004. It was developed in partnership with key
stakeholders, including:
• NFU Scotland
• Scottish Agricultural College (SAC)
• Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group for Scotland
(FWAG)
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
• Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
• World Wildlife Fund for Scotland
The key points covered in the plan are:
- minimising dirty water around the
steading, which minimises pollution and maximises
nutrient values;
- better nutrient use, to minimise
pollution and financial losses;
- risk assessment for manure and
slurry, to plan land application to minimise pollution
and benefit crops;
- water margin management, to
benefit livestock and minimise pollution.
Stakeholders continue to promote the uptake of The Four
Point Plan through the Project Officer on Water Resource
Management and the existing advisory services. The
Executive continues to work in partnership with
stakeholders and has taken forward pilot work and
feasibility studies covering a number of related,
alternative or complementary measures to those promoted in
The Four Point Plan. Reports on studies undertaken can be
accessed via the link given below. The Executive is also
working with:
- SEPA on an initiative to assess
field and steading hotspots and to trial low cost
remediation measures such as the use of ponds and other
natural treatment systems to minimise pollution;
and
- Scottish Water to assess the
feasibility of the co-digestion of farm slurry with
sewage sludge at a waste water treatment works.
Links
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/agri/4pointplan.pdf
- For study reports, go to:-
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Water
Primary Action complete although work is
ongoing in relation to the overarching
objective.
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