How ELMs will support soil health F
urther details about next year’s launch of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) were made by Defra secretary George
EXPERT VIEW
Looking aſter soil will become an important income stream for farmers, says
Honor May Eldridge.
Eustice at last month’s Cereals event. Mr Eustice confirmed that soil health will be at the heart of Defra’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme. The aim is to re- verse soil erosion and degradation – and pay farmers to improve soil health, he said. Two of three SFI standards to be rolled out next year by the government aim to restore soils. They are the arable and horticultural soils standard; and the improved grassland soils standard. Farmers will be paid £26-70/ha for practic-
es that improve soil health. Long overdue
Recognition of the importance of soils to agri- culture is long overdue. Healthy soils are es- sential for food security. Yet almost one third of the world’s arable soils have been lost to erosion and pollution over the last 40 years. In the UK, we lose an estimated 2.2 million tonnes of topsoil each year, costing around £45 million per year, of which £9 million is in lost
Recognition of the importance of soils to agriculture is long overdue
“ Improving UK soil health will also increase
its water holding capacity – helping to reduce flooding. This will become increasingly impor- tant as extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change. As the SFI is rolled out, further measures to support soil health are likely. Farm consult- ants are well positioned to help growers and livestock producers adopt the most appropri- ate standards for their own situation. Honor Eldridge is an environmental consult- ant for Wilson Wraight. Call 01284 334483 or visit
www.wilsonwraight.co.uk
production and lower yields, reducing the prof- itability of UK farms.
Increasing soil organic matter – and by ex- tension soil carbon – through methods such as cover-cropping and min-till, will also help meet Net Zero targets, something that the govern- ment is keen to deliver against.
From single machines through to complete turnkey installations, Haith has unrivalled experience and expertise in designing and installing vegetable handling solutions.
IN-TAKE BOX TIPPLERS WASHERS & DESTONERS POLISHERS
IN-FIELD +44 (0) 1302 831911
GRADERS
sales@haith.co.uk www.haith.co.uk Strategic Partner AUGUST 2021 • ANGLIA FARMER 37
OPTICAL SORTERS
TURNKEY SOLUTIONS
INNOVATION COMBINED
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
