rural economy research centre rural development conference agricultural (mini) catchments programme...

Rural Economy Research Centre

Rural Development Conference

Agricultural (Mini) Catchments Programme

Cathal Buckley

26th January 2009



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



National Action Programme (NAP)

4-year programme commencing on 1 January 2006.

Phased commencement of measures Review effectiveness after 4 years

Water quality Farm practices

Revise for next four years



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



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

Knowledge

Source

Delivery

Impact

Soil



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



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



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.



Methodological Framework

Financial / Economic element NFS collection process Economic Benchmarking Efficiency / Future scenarios

Linear programming DEA / Stochastic frontier modelling?

Aggregation?



Methodological Framework -Attitudinal Elements Attitudes

Theory planned behaviour / reasoned action

Drivers of attitude

Non-market valuation Choice Modelling

Production vs. water quality trade-off



Possible Constraints

Sample size 8 catchments, N=120?

Experimental design Case for control catchments ?

Attitudes Impacts of more intensive advice Physical indicators?



Comments

Initial stages of socio-economic task December 2008

Appreciate any comments Proposed methodologies / New one’s

THANKS FOR ATTENTION

rural economy research centre rural development conference agricultural (mini) catchments programme...

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