30 October 2018
A recent Farming Connect focus site event was held by kind permission of the Pilkington family at Shordley Hall, Hope in Flintshire looking to address the specific agri-pollution issues within the Pulford Brook catchment area. The main contributor at the event was Keith Owen from Agriplan Cymru, who gave a presentation on the current SSAFO and NVZ regulations along with an example calculation of the potential saving of overall slurry volume if effective diversion and separation of clean and dirty water was calculated for areas of the farm yard. Keith also highlighted the importance of adhering to regulations regarding NVZ closed spreading periods and the freeboard between the top of the lagoon to slurry level. He went on to highlight the potential at Shordley Hall to meet current and future slurry regulations without the need for further large expensive storage and slurry handling infrastructures.
Also speaking at the event was Gareth Foulkes from theDee Water Trust who explained the current issues with traces of pesticides in the water extraction points along the lower Dee river. Gareth also discussed potential solutions and help available from the Trust such as water safe ferric phosphate slug pellets and the free use of a soil aerator.
Local Wrexham and Flintshire Development Officer Ifan Hughes gave an update on the full and part funded advisory options available to farmers through Farming Connect such as a nutrient management planning or farm infrastructure advice.
Dairy Technical officer Rhys Davies who helped organise the event said, “It is important that farmers within such sensitive areas as the Pulford Brook are given the latest advice and support to help them make informed decisions regarding their slurry and dirty water management infrastructure”. He went on to explain how Keith’s advice changed the way many who attended looked at areas of their own farms and what was needed to comply with legislation; “By understanding how calculations for volumes of slurry are done and acting on them goes a long way towards having a proactive approach to tackle the issue” said Rhys.