1. Thomas Dworak Ecologic Institute
Integrating water issues in Farm advisory services A Handbook of ideas for administrations
Thomas Dworak
Ecologic Institute

2. Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak
Aim of the Handbook
A clear need for information sharing among the Member States on the structure of Farm Advisory Services
Content focuses on:
Environmental considerations in water management, not water management in general! – i.e. “Water-friendly” farming practices
Institutional and organizational setup behind technical farming measures
Target audience:
Governmental, administrative bodies that govern advisory services
Information sharing is a prerequiste for a better understanding of the impacts of FAS on delivering environmental outcomes and costs
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

3. Farm Advisory System versus farm advice
The "Farm Advisory system" (FAS) is a comprehensive system made up of different advisory bodies coordinated by a central body or authority. This system guarantees that each farmer in all Member States is able to ask and receive advice on compulsory standards, at the least on all cross compliance requirements.
A "farm advisory service" is the service a farmer receives from an advisor, i.e. an oral or written advice that analyses a farmer's practical problems on his farm and gives guidance in order to resolve practical problems. Advice is the provision of a technical skilled opinion on a specific subject to assist the farmer in his decision making.
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

4. Structure of the Handbook
1 Background and Introduction
Why such a handbook?
What does “Farm Advisory System” and “farm advice” mean?
What to be found in the handbook?
Who should read this handbook?
9 What is the motivation of farmers to participation and how to approach farmers to do so?
2 Water problems resulting from agriculture
10 What is the best timing of advice?
3 What does “farm advice” mean?
11 Examples of advice to address water problems
4 What relevant legal aspects to consider?
12 Costs and financing of advice
5 Current situation of FAS in MS
13 “Soft skills” of the advisor
6 How to target the advice to solve certain environmental problems
14 Monitoring and Evaluation
7 What are the different farm advisory approaches?
15 Links for additional information
8 Ways to integrate FAS approaches to increase efficiency of advice and reduce costs
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

5. What can be found in the Handbook?
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

6. Chapter 2 – Water problems resulting from agriculture
Chapter 3 – How does farm advice work?
Pollution – nutrients and pesticides
Alterations of hydrological regimes
Hydro-morphological modifications
Soil erosion
Focuses on the benefits achieved through farm advice
Chapter 3: such as Better compliance with new legal issues (e.g. new GAECs after the 2008 CAP health check), Environmental benefits (e.g. improvements of the biodiversity, water quality), Cost savings for the farmer (reduced costs for fertilisation), Ensuring vitality of farming in the future
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

7. Chapter 4 & 5 – Legal and Institutional issues
Details the legal requirements FAS must cover
Examples on the institutional and organizational set up in various MS
Which institutions are involved
Strategic direction of FAS
Prioritization within FAS
How MS already handle water issue in advice, i.e. whether water is a specific advice issue or if it is integrated into other advice issues (e.g. soil)
Requirements and training of advisors
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

8. Chapter 6 – How to target advice
“How to select the farmers that should be addressed?”
Other approaches include:
Focus on most prevalent types of farms in breach of environmental laws or standards (e.g. Belgium – Flanders)
Production focus
Self-screening (e.g. England, Ireland, Hungary, Austria)
Several different approaches found in the MS
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

9. Chapter 7 – Different farm advisory approaches
Chapter 8 – Ways to integrate different FAS approaches
Chapter 7 – Different farm advisory approaches
Which approaches to provide information exist
Which tools and methods of advice exist
How to select the right tool(s) for advice
Goal is to increase efficiency of advice and reduce costs
Focuses on how MS integrate different advice approaches (e.g. legal, business, environmental) in the FAS
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

10. Chapter 9 – Why do Farmers participate in FAS?
Personal values play an important role in decision-making and participation.
Important to know about farmer motivation in order to effectively implement farm advice
Farmer segmentation in the UK
Environmental concerns
Social pressures (the civil society or other farmers are forcing a farmer to participate)
Economic reasons (cost savings due to optimized management practices)
Compliance with legal requirements
Social reasons (meeting with others or loyalty to their advisor)
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

11. Chapter 10 - Best Timing of advice
Presents information on what time of the year the different FAS tools are most effective
For example:
Manual, templates, maps, software tools: Suitable year-round. Updates before the main sowing season in the spring.
Telephone help-line: Suitable year-round.
One-on-one visits: Most relevant close to or during the growing season.
Small group advice: Start of the growing season.
Training courses, workshops, seminars and information meetings: During the winter time when farmers are more likely to have time to leave the farm.
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

12. Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak
Chapter 11 - Farm advice activities to address water problems caused by agriculture
Boxes on MS examples of current activities to address:
Nutrient pollution
Pesticide pollution
Irrigation
Mixed - addressing more than one issue
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

13. Chapter 12 – Costs and financing of advice
Costs of services differ widely across Europe
Financing
What are the main sources of funding? E.g., rural developing funding, other public funds, private etc.
Funding conditions of private institutions, i.e. Award criteria for subcontracting private advisory services
In some MS farmers get between 50%-80% of the costs covered while in others financing depends on the level of advice (e.g. Czech Republic)
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

14. Chapter 14 – Soft skills of advisors
Highlights in the need for soft skills to effectively reach farmers
Focuses on “trust” & "understanding and speaking the farmers' language“
Incorporation of soft skills into training of trainers
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

15. Chapter 14 – Monitoring and Evaluation
Handbook focuses on:
The competences of the advisor
The impact on the farm in terms of change of the behaviour/practices - evaluating the impacts of advice
Chapter gives examples on how Member States evaluate their own FAS and how much monitoring takes place
Important to note that some MS are still in the process of updating their FAS after the Health Check, so some of the monitoring and evaluation processes in the MS may not be in compliance with current ruels
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak

16. Thank you for listening.
Thomas Dworak
Ecologic Institute, Auhofstrasse 4/7, A-1130 Vienna Tel. +43 (664) , Fax +43 (1)
6-7 April 2010
Seville, WFD Expert Group on agriculture– Thomas Dworak