Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) is an English farm advice programme funded by the

UK Government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_es ...

. It works with farmers, communities, and organisations across England to improve the quality of water, air, and sustainable water management. Since the programme’s creation it has reduced agricultural pollutant losses by 4–12% across target areas in England. CSF is led by

Natural England Natural England is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, ...

in partnership with

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United K ...

and the

Environment Agency The Environment Agency (EA) is a non-departmental public body, established in 1996 and sponsored by the United Kingdom government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with responsibilities relating to the protection and enha ...

Objectives

CSF’s main objective is to improve water and air quality, and sustainable water management in England by providing farmers and landowners with free advice, training, and grant support in the following areas: *

Soil management Soil management is the application of operations, practices, and treatments to protect soil and enhance its performance (such as soil fertility or soil mechanics). It includes soil conservation, soil amendment, and optimal soil health. In agricult ...

Nutrient A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi, and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excret ...

, slurry, and

manure management Manure management refers to capture, storage, treatment, and utilization of animal manures in an environmentally sustainable manner. It can be retained in various holding facilities. Animal manure (also referred to as animal waste) can occur i ...

* Ammonia reduction * Farm infrastructure and machinery set-up * Pesticide handling * Water resources and natural flood management * Local environmental priorities *

Land management Land management is the process of managing the use and development (in both urban and rural settings, but it is mostly managed in Urban places.) of land resources. Land resources are used for a variety of purposes which may include organic agricul ...

Methodology

CSF works in river catchments across England, where local teams engage farmers, landowners and the wider community through local events, national shows, e-mail campaigns, phone calls, and on-site visits. Engagement within these catchments is often prioritised based on the environmental issues in these areas. The CSF programme also works with partners, such as local trusts, authorities, trade bodies and water companies, throughout England, to monitor and improve the condition of landscapes and water courses. Work with partners includes developing tools, media campaigns, and conservation projects that support catchment objectives. CSF advisers only provide advice and grant approval (for schemes such as

Countryside Stewardship The Countryside Stewardship Scheme was originally an agri-environment scheme run by the United Kingdom Government set up in 1991. In its original form it expired in 2014. It was relaunched for the Rural Development Programme England (RDPE) 2014-2020 ...

), and do not enforce government regulation.

History

A major source of diffuse pollution in English watercourses are from agricultural practices that cause issues such as surface run-off and

nutrient pollution Nutrient pollution, a form of water pollution, refers to contamination by excessive inputs of nutrients. It is a primary cause of eutrophication of surface waters (lakes, rivers and coastal waters), in which excess nutrients, usually nitrogen or ...

. The programme was created in 2006 to address water quality issues in only the worst affected drainage basins of England. In 2018, the additional objective of improving air quality was added to the programme due to increasing ammonia emissions from agriculture. By October 2022, the programme had expanded to cover all of England, though priority is given to catchments with more substantial environmental pressures. Currently the programme is developing natural methodologies to reduce flood risk on agricultural land.

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/csf/default.aspx, name=GOV.UK/CSF Sustainable agriculture