Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Agricultural (Mini) Catchments Programme Cathal Buckley 26 th January 2009

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Background  N and P from agriculture – Water Quality  EU Nitrates Directive (1991)  Code of Good Ag. Practice (1996)  EU Water Framework Directive (2000)  National Action Programme (2004 / 2005)  Good Ag. Regulations (2005/06/07/08) Legal framework for farmers

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference National Action Programme (NAP)  4-year programme commencing on 1 January  Phased commencement of measures  Review effectiveness after 4 years Water quality Farm practices  Revise for next four years

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference National Action Programme  Slurry Storage requirements – Farm Waste Management Scheme Application times / protocols  Fertilisers Limits on amounts Application times / protocols  Quantity of livestock manure should not exceed 170kg / Ha  Derogation – 250 Kg ON / Ha

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Monitoring and Assessment of Effectiveness - NAP  General monitoring programme for nitrates Water generally: rivers, lakes, tidal waters, groundwater. (EPA / local authorities)  A monitoring programme at individual farm level to assess the short-term impact on nitrates including:  Farm Facilities Survey  Fertiliser Use Survey  Studies in agricultural Mini-catchments

What is a catchment? Area drained by stream 4 – 12 sq km Range of pressures Range of vulnerabilities

The Project Approach Source Pathway Impact Complexity KnowledgeKnowledge Source Delivery Impact Soil

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Catchments Selection  Mini-catchment selection – 8 sites 4 areas x 2 mini-catchments 6 have been approved Representative – farming system, soils, intensity, phosphorus or nitrogen risk  Farming system (Tillage / Grassland)  Soils (Limestone)  Risk N  Rick P North-east, South-east, Central, Southern

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Research Staff  Programme Manager  Principal Scientist  4 Researchers soils, water (2), socio-economic  Data Manager Broad range of data being collected  4 Advisers  4 Technicians - In Catchments

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Socio-economic Task  Financial / Economic element NFS methodology (Each of 4 years) Analyse data and determine cost implications  Efficiency of fertiliser use etc. Economic assessment of NAP measures  Attitudinal Element  Survey (Start & End)  Attitudes/understanding to water quality and the measures required to control nutrient loss  Identify the factors that create barriers to the implementation of measures at farm level  Possible initiatives to address these.

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Methodological Framework  Financial / Economic element NFS collection process Economic Benchmarking Efficiency / Future scenarios  Linear programming  DEA / Stochastic frontier modelling? Aggregation?

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Methodological Framework - Attitudinal Elements  Attitudes Theory planned behaviour / reasoned action  Drivers of attitude  Non-market valuation Choice Modelling  Production vs. water quality trade-off

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Possible Constraints  Sample size 8 catchments, N=120?  Experimental design Case for control catchments ?  Attitudes  Impacts of more intensive advice  Physical indicators?

Rural Economy Research Centre Rural Development Conference Comments  Initial stages of socio-economic task December 2008  Appreciate any comments Proposed methodologies / New one’s THANKS FOR ATTENTION