Environment & Conservation on FarmsGillian McKnight Conservation Consultant

22

2015 International Year of Soils

33

Soils - renewable or finite?

• Soil – farm natural “capital” – or renewable resource?

• We need soils: “ecosystem services”

– habitats– forests– water– food– fibre– health– culture– recreation

44

Soil Biodiversity – a food web

• Micro fauna - bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes

• Meso fauna – mites, springtails

• Macro fauna – earthworms, beetles, spiders, larvae

• Plant roots

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A functioning ecosystem?

• Soils and soil organisms make up a complex micro-ecosystem

• Uniform and intensively managed fields have lower diversity of soils, soil organisms etc

• Soil biodiversity trends are similar to above ground biodiversity - which is also declining

• Functions include

– Nutrient cycling – regulates ecosystem functioning through soil organic matter, soil carbon sequestration, emission of gasses (GHG), nutrient availability, modifying soil structure and water, supporting vegetation & biodiversity = genetic diversity

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How does Scottish agriculture affect soils?

• We understand physical structure, pH, nutrient levels

• We understand drainage & compaction

• Do we understand soil biodiversity & soil biological functions?

• How do farm operations affect

– bacteria– fungi– carbon

1010

Is farming decreasing or building soil health?

• Soil structure - soil organic matter– a major carbon store, huge historic losses through intensive management

• Compaction – reduces activity of soil micro organisms and crop growth

• Chemicals – in UK 31,000 tonnes of chemicals are applied annually which disrupt life cycles of micro-organisms; enter water and air etc

• Erosion – loss of soils into other systems eg aquatic

• High bacterial to fungal ration in soils reduces nutrient retention

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Management significantly affects soil biota

• “a change in soil health resulting in diminished capacity of the ecosystem to provide goods & services” = soil degradation (JHI)

– the bacterial to fungal ratio is increased by application of nitrogen

– nitrogen leaching increases with reduced fungi

– cultivation reduces fungal hyphae

– pesticides affect non target organisms eg beneficial plants, microbes & fungi

eg glyphosate reduces grassland mycrorrhiza both directly & indirectly

1212

Cropping

• Continuous cropping depletes soil organic matter which reduces soil biodiversity = loss of genetic diversity =

• Threats to soil biodiversity highest where agriculture is most intensive and population is highest

• Integrated pest control reduces environmental impact compared to conventional systems but

• Organic systems support significantly higher soil biota functions than conventional systems

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Grasslands

• Grasslands play a major role in carbon sequestration

• Total carbon can be higher in forestry but the below ground can be greater in grasslands - the most stable carbon is below ground.

• Greater storage of carbon can be achieved through increasing nitrogen fixing legumes, which absorb rather than release carbon to the atmosphere; and by using deeper rooting plants

• Fungi increase with soil organic matter (carbon) - helps restore natural grasslands

1414

Biodiversity Declines & Species Extinctions

• Species losses in grasslands due to intensive management – high soil fertility – loss of fungal activity & mycorrhiza – seed bank limitations– lack of soil microfauna

• Species increases in grassland restoration with extensive management– cessation of fertiliser– cut & remove sward with aftermath grazing– can take c20 years– depends on soils and seed bank– oversowing or slot seeding– use of yellow rattle (hemi-parasitic)– enhance mycorrhiza

1515

It’s not all about trees

• Expansion of tree cover has caused significant declines across a range of priority habitats and associated species:

– Upland and lowland grasslands– Hay meadows– Acid & calcareous grasslands– Wood pastures– Blanket bog– Upland & lowland heaths– Species poor inbye pastures– Species poor rush pastures

1616

How do your clients farm?

• Do you ask clients about?

– Sustainable farming?

– Wildlife friendly?

– Less intensive farming methods?

– Local suppliers & markets?

– Quality v quantity of produce?

1717

Do we need to produce more food globally?

• Small scale traditional agriculture produces 50% of world food

• Fishing, hunting, home grown accounts for 20% of world food

• Commercial agriculture produces 30% of world food half of this food is wasted

• One billion people are obese

• One billion people are under-nourished

• In UK 7m million tonnes of food was thrown away = 17m tonnes of CO2

• In UK almost one million people use food banks

* figures taken from Oxford Real Farming Conference paper

1818

New SRDP 2014 – 2020 Priorities

• Enhancing the rural economy

• Supporting agricultural businesses

• Protecting and improving the natural environment

• Addressing the impact of climate change

• Supporting rural communities

1919

Budget Allocations

• Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) ……………...£459m • Agri-Environment Climate Scheme …………………………£350m• Forestry Grant Scheme ………………………………………....£252m• Beef package ……………………………………………………..£ 45m • New Entrants Support …………………………………………...£ 20m• Support for Co-operative Action ……………………………..£ 10m• Small Farms Support Scheme 3 - 50ha..…………………….£ 6m • Crofting Support Scheme ……………………………………..£ 14m • Food and Drink Support …………………………………………£ 70m• LEADER ………………………………………………………......£ 86m • Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF) …………….£ 10m • Advisory Service ………………………………………………….£ 20m• Broadband ………………………………………………………...£ 9m• Technical Assistance ……………………………………………..£ 15m

2020

New SRDP

• RPID, SNH, FCS involvement

• Additional support and mentoring will be delivered through the Advisory Service.

• Level 1 – applications for grants up to £75,000 with local approval.

• Level 2 – applications for grants above £75,000 which will be considered nationally by an expert panel

• For forestry the threshold will remain at £750,000

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Agri-Environment Climate Scheme

• £350m

• £10 million of targeted support for slurry stores

• £6 million for footpaths and other works to support access management

• Geographical targeting of options

• Advice for Farm Environment Plans

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More Targeting of Options

• Target maps for some options (eg mown and grazed grassland; hedges)

• Need support from relevant conservation organisation

• Training for agents & applicants

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New Options?

• Flooding – to reduce flood risk

– river embankment removal, lowering or breaching

– SEPA approval

– plan for spoil disposal

– reinstate vegetation

– 100% of actual costs

– use with habitat options

2424

Arable Options

• Unharvested crops / Wild Bird Cover £322.63– Capital payment £232.24

• Forage brassica crops for farmland birds £463.36

• Unharvested conservation headlands for wildlife £657.57

• Retention of winter stubbles for wildlife £299.44

• Stubbles followed by green manure in arable rotation £498.49

• Beetlebanks/Grass Strips/Water Margins in arable fields £595.64

2525

Water Margins

• In grass fields

£123.42

2626

Conversion to Low Input Grassland

• Land at risk from flooding or erosion

£284.80

• Management of Flood plains

£57.43

2727

Wetland

• Wetland Management

£90.03

• Wetland Creation

£284.80

2828

Habitat Mosaic Management

• A combination of habitat types

£104.63

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Species Rich Grassland

• Management

£109.56

• Creation and Management

£284.80

Capital Payment

£754.42

Restoration Capital Payment

£514.15

3030

Grassland Management Options TARGETED• Mown grassland for corn buntings £191.44

• Wader & Wildlife Mown Grassland £165.12

• Wader & Wildlife Grazing Management £114.29

• Chough Mown Grassland £224.75

• Chough grazing management £87.93

• Corncrake Mown Grassland £209.37, £224.75, £268.25

• Corncrake Grazing Management £241.50

• Corncrake Cover £148.85

3131

Hedges

• Creation & Management £1.20/m

Capital grant planting £5.40/m

• Management £0.11/m

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Annual Management Grants for Moorland

• Moorland Management - livestock grazing £3.60/ha

• Moorland Management - livestock & deer management £4.84/ha

• Moorland Management - deer £1.24/ha

• Heath management (coastal, serpentine & special) £88.79/ha <30 ha; £54.43/ha <70ha & >70ha £3.60 per ha per year thereafter.

• Stock disposal £24.83/ha

• Away wintering of sheep £25.83/ha

• Summer hill grazing of cattle LMO £3.19/ha (1 cow:25ha)

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New Access Options

• Improving access – new & upgraded paths, core paths, links to core paths

• Allows for a range of widths (min1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m or max2.5m)• Technical specification• Other items – gates, styles, signs, benches, gates, culverts, tree safety

– New path – unbound surface - £18.21 per sq. metre (eg. 1.8m width path = £32.78 per linear m)

– New path – semi-bound surface - £28.15 per sq. metre (eg. 1.8m width path = £51.30 per linear m)

– Upgrade existing path - £6.12 per sq. metre (eg. 1.8m width path = £11.02 per linear m)

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Cutting of Rush Pasture

£34.59

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Aerial photo of hill drains/grips

3636

Use of peat dams

3737

Eroding peat

3838

Sphagnum moss absent

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Overburning