Farmers and growers urged to face up to the water issue
Farming Futures is holding a free workshop on water management for farmers, growers and land managers in the West Midlands on 30 March.
Water is one of agriculture’s most fundamental resources and the way we use it is going to change. By 2050 in the West Midlands, rainfall is projected to decrease by 17% and water demand for irrigated crops could increase by up to 50%. So farmers and growers need to become smarter with their water resources if they are to remain profitable in the future.
Water availability and the unreliability of rainfall are already a significant problem in some parts of the country. New regulation is just round the corner with the draft Flood and Water Management Bill, abstraction licensing is likely to change and mains water prices are going up.
Water availability is not a sector specific issue in agriculture; all types of farm business need water to operate and it can be a significant expense. For example a herd of 200 dairy cows will typically cost a farm £10,000 per year in mains water use. Many farmers are already taking steps to manage their water resources more efficiently.
This free workshop organised by Farming Futures in partnership with the Environment Agency will cover rainwater harvesting, building reservoirs and how farmers and growers can work together to share resources.
Expert speakers will explore the solutions and demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits they can bring to your business. Speakers will include Andrew Alston, Chief Executive of the Broadland Agricultural Water Abstractors Group, and Phil Metcalfe, Head of the Waste and Environment Group at ADAS. A farm walk will show some of the technologies in practice.
Madeleine Lewis, Farming Futures project manager said, “Water is a key resource to all farmers and growers so you need to make sure you know how much you’re using, you’re as efficient as you can be, and that you capture and reuse as much as possible.”
“Water resources are only going to come under increasing pressure as population growth, hotter, drier summers, and the pressure to produce more food have an impact. At this Farming Futures workshop you can learn from the experts who already treat future water scarcity and regulation as a reality in their business.”
The workshop is FREE and lunch and refreshments are included. The details are:
Date: Tuesday 30th March 2010
Time: 09:30-15:00
Venue: The Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Badley, Nr. Evesham, Worcester, WR11 7EJ
Focus on: FarmWater Futures – water management for farmers and growers
To register: Please call 07825 204434 or email farming@forumforthefuture.org
In February 2010 38% of all farmers surveyed in England as part of the Farming Futures project said they were already affected by climate change and more than 56% expect to be affected in the next ten years.
Farming Futures provides inspiration and information for farmers, land managers and advisors via fact sheets on every farming sector and topical issues such as anaerobic digestion, water and biomass. All are available for download from www.farmingfutures.org.uk.
Farming Futures is an industry-led collaboration project between the NFU, CLA, AIC, AHRF, FWAG, LEAF, Forum for the Future and Defra to communicate practical action on climate change.
