To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce agricultural pollution as a means for improving the ecological status of rivers in England.
Answered on
10 May 2023
We have set a new ambitious, legally binding target under the Environment Act 2021 to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment from agriculture entering the water environment by 40% by 2038. Through the Environmental Improvement Plan, we have also committed to review our farming regulations to ensure they are fit for purpose for our environmental and farming ambitions. Additionally, we have recently published our Plan for Water which will transform our management of the water system, deliver cleaner water for nature and people, and secure a plentiful water supply.
There are several regulations in place in England to prevent water pollution in agriculture, including the Farming Rules for Water regulations that require land managers to take reasonable precautions to reduce and prevent diffuse pollution from agriculture. We are working to increase regulatory compliance by boosting funding to the Environment Agency to deliver 4,000 inspections per year- targeting protected nature sites in an unfavourable condition.
We are also tackling agricultural pollution through advice and incentives that include:
- expansion of the successful Catchment Sensitive Farming programme providing 1-2-1 farmer advice and guidance by doubling the funding to £15 million p.a. to cover all farmland in England.
- launch of the first round of the Slurry Infrastructure grant, providing funding of £34 million for farmers to upgrade their slurry store facilities; a critical step to allow livestock farmers to make best use of their organic nutrients and prevent pollution.
- supporting sustainable farming practices to improve water quality and create new habitats through the three Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes.
o delivering six new Sustainable Farming Incentive standards this year with actions to improve the water environment by reducing runoff and erosion, maintaining soil cover and creating buffer strips and margins.
o Countryside Stewardship will pay for more targeted actions in specific locations, features, and habitats to provide natural flood management, protecting the water environment.
o Landscape Recovery will pay for longer-term, larger-scale projects to improve the natural environment. The first round of projects will restore 400 miles of rivers and streams.