Home

Under the heading “Rising to the Challenge” it considered the issues faced at local and national level by land managers, researchers and those involved with policy. The second day featured more of the practical measures being taken or suggested, some of which are controversial and could be problematic for stakeholders to accept.

The morning programme’s emphasis on “the local” highlighted the need for engaging farmers, land managers or local communities together in the work required to address problems. Whether it be solutions to local flooding problems in Northumberland or addressing wider issues where soil and water must be managed for multiple objectives, the point was made that people on the ground must be convinced and helped to “buy in” to new ways of working.

This session was chaired by Professor Peter Gregory, Director of the Scottish Crop Research Institute. After the previous day’s presentations, many of which dealt with the big picture or theory, what impressed  Peter Gregory about this morning’s offering was the way  people were seen to be trying to do things and having a go. (in podcast 6)  

However, “having a go” when a strategy has multiple objectives can be fraught with problems.  Ecologist Dr. Davy McCracken of SAC highlighted how work on Ayrshire dairy farms to tackle diffuse pollution with buffer strips between grazing fields and water courses could have detrimental effects for wild life.  Unless those strips were managed properly they would not grow the variety of plant species required to support the insects that farm birds feed on.  That needs controlled grazing in areas normally fenced off to livestock.  It highlighted that to achieving multiple outcomes you need compromises which are understood by everybody involved, from farmer and regulator. (in podcast 7)  

However, ensuring the messages are understood by those on the ground can be problematic. The work SAC economist Dr Andrew Barnes has done investigating how farmers reacted to the messages associated with Nitrate Vulnerable Zones has given him an insight into the difficulty of knowledge exchange to varying individuals. He believed it was a subject that needs much more attention, especially given the challenges to traditional management practices from complex climate change effects or processes.  Andrew believed scientists must approach it as a marketing exercise. (in podcast 8) 

In the afternoon it was time to look forward to how agriculture and environmental researchers might “Rise to the Challenge”.  In a session chaired by SAC Chief Executive and Principal Professor Bill McKelvey, the opening address from NFUS Policy Director Jonathon Hall neatly summarised the net of different policies farmers were working under.  Accepting farmers had real responsibilities for environmental issues, he pointed out the present financial state of the sector and the confusing sets of rules and regulations facing land managers under pressure.

Using a series of double-handed presentations the conference then considered how the challenge should be met in the lowlands, the uplands and forests.  SAC Board member John Gilliland OBE is a former President of the Ulster Farmers Union and Chairman of DEFRA’s Climate Change Forum.  Considering the pressures on the lowland acres. he urged farmers to think beyond their traditional role enterprises.  (in podcast 9) 

One such area is forestry which many farmers regard as a threat.  Charlie Taylor manages a large portion of the Forestry Commission estate in central Scotland.  While he understood the attitudes farmers held, he reminded the audience of the government’s wish to see 25% of the country back under trees as it was thousands of years ago.  He reminded them that re-introducing trees need not mean forests replacing farmland. (in podcast 10)  As Session Chairman Professor Bill McKelvey noted the way forward lies in regarding land as having many functions and the challenges that creates are as stimulating as they can be frightening. (in podcast 11)