1. Roadmap to Improving Farm Efficiency and Profitability Setting the Scene Brian Ervine, Environmental Policy, DARD

2. Roadmap to Improving Farm Efficiency & Profitability Focus Issues Biodiversity Phosphorus Surplus Agri Land Mgt Strategy GHG Mit and Adapt - Nitrous Oxide – Methane Ammonia -Animal Housing -Slurry storage -Slurry spreading Habitats Dir Water Quality -NAP -WFD

3. Water Quality ↔ Nutrient Management  Nutrients – in manures and chemical fertilisers  Nitrogen and Phosphorus – impact on water quality  Enrichment of rivers and lakes primarily by Phosphorus is the widespread problem

4. Water Quality ↔ Nutrient Management  Efficient use of Nutrients: - lowers nutrient surplus -reduces pressures on water quality  Other Agricultural Pressures on Water: -Point Source Pollution from farmyards -Sedimentation -Pesticides in some catchments

5. Water Quality : EU Directives  Nitrates Directive - Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and Phosphorus Regulations -Reviewed every 4 years -Current NAP 2015 – 2018 -Applies to all farms in NI

6. Water Quality : EU Directives  Water Framework Directive - River Basin Management Plans -2 nd Cycle 2015 - 2021 -NAP and Phosphorus Regulations are the basic Agricultural measure for WFD

7. Water Framework Directive Obective : “Good” Ecological status for all water bodies by 2015 Water Bodies Failing WFD Good Status Country% NI62 ROI *48 Scotland38 Wales50 England78 EU Average47 * Rivers only

8. How does the EC see us?  Nutrient enrichment – widespread problem in NI  Acknowledges good progress since NAP in 2007  Concern that intensification could cause a reverse  Short of meeting WFD objectives  More regulation?  Tools and levers

9. Phosphorus Use – Chemical Fertiliser YearKg/P/ha 20092.5 20103.9 20113.0 20123.3 20134.8 20144.1

10. Incident Source 2014* * Source NIEA - data is in draft form

11. Incident source 2009 – 14* * Source NIEA - data is in draft form

12. Water Quality – Monitoring and Reporting  Data reported to EU Commission annually  NAP and WFD - review cycles  Previous reviews - positive trends → stable or improving water quality → reducing nutrient surplus  However, decline in Water Quality → Risk

13. Water Quality – the way forward  Acknowledge problems → take action  Government and Industry → partnership approach  Voluntary action preferable to Regulation  Roadmap for farm efficiency and profitability