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The Four Point Plan
Runoff from agricultural sources may contain a range of materials including faecal bacteria, nutrients and soil particles, all of which have the potential to downgrade the quality of receiving waters.
The 4 Point Plan aims to help Scottish livestock farmers identify and reduce the risk of diffuse pollution from their farm.
Based on a SAC report (for the Scottish Executive) entitled “Impact of agricultural practices and catchment characteristics on Ayrshire bathing waters”, the plan identifies four methods which can help reduce diffuse pollution risk:
- Dirty water management around the steading
- Better nutrient use
- RAMS – A Risk Assessment for Manure and Slurry
- Managing water margins
The Plan suggests low or no cost measures, suitable for a range of situations. It enables the farmer to make basic calculations about their farm: for example, the amount of slurry or manure produced by housed livestock, or dirty water production around the steading.
Implementing the Plan could give rise to benefits for both the farmer and the environment, for example -
- Cut hidden costs through a change in practice (e.g. keeping clean and dirty water separate could mean less to collect, store, handle and spread, saving on valuable storage space, time spent dealing with slurry or dirty water and less trips to the field)
- Achieve compliance with current and forthcoming legislation and gain points towards agri-environment schemes
- Assist an application for grant aid towards installation or improvement of a slurry storage facility or yard midden under the Farm Business Development Scheme (FBDS)
- Demonstrate that the agricultural sector is actively taking pollution risk into account
- Improve water quality and habitat for a range of species
The 4 Point Plan complements the PEPFAA Code (Prevention of Environmental Pollution From Agricultural Activities code of good practice). It has been used as part of localised projects to improve water quality, achieve compliance with legislation, and as a step towards a Farm Waste Management Plan (FWMP) and nutrient budget.
Partners
The 4 Point Plan is a multi-agency publication supported and funded by: