Scoring and ranking farmland conservation activities to evaluate environmental performance and encourage sustainable farming

Lewis, Kathleen; Skinner, John; Finch, James; Kaho, Tina; Newbold, Marguerite; Bardon, Keith

doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1719(199708)5:2<71::aid-sd61>3.0.co;2-f

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…introducing buffer strips to reduce nitrate leaching may increase nitrous oxide production through denitrification (Goulding et al 1996;Burt et al 1999); maintaining a green cover in autumn to reduce leaching may increase weed, pest and disease problems and so require more applications of agrochemicals (Goulding et al 1999). Farm system studies, including environmental audit models, are being used to examine these problems and devise strategies to reduce total environmental impact, meeting the need for an holistic approach to agriculture and the environment (Johnson et al 1996(Johnson et al , 1997Lewis et al 1997;Goulding et al 1998c).…”

Section: Continuing Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrate leaching from arable and horticultural land

Goulding¹

2000

Soil Use and Management

211

107

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Arable crops in the UK make a large contribution to nitrate leaching by virtue of the land area they cover (>4.5 million ha). By contrast horticultural crops occupy only a small area (< 0.2 million ha) but can leach very large amounts of nitrogen. The application of nitrogen fertilizer to arable and horticultural crops is very cost-effective, stimulating its use. MAFF's Nitrate Research Programme for arable and horticultural crops aims to reduce nitrate leaching and maintain productive farming through Best Management Practice.The Programme has led to the development and testing of methods to measure nitrate leaching, the identification of`leaky' crops, soils and practices, and strategies to optimize the use of fertilizer nitrogen. Data have been used to construct and test models of nitrate leaching, which in turn have been used to evaluate the leakiness of potential rotations. Current best practice to minimize nitrate leaching requires measures to improve the efficiency of nitrogen use by crops, combined with measures to protect soil nitrogen from leaching during the late autumn to spring drainage period. This involves consideration of many factors: an appropriate crop variety must be chosen; a green cover must be maintained for as much of the year as is practicable; crops should be drilled early; fertilizer requirements should be calculated using a recommendation system and allowing for soil mineral nitrogen and any manures applied; fertilizers should be spread evenly with a properly calibrated spreader, perhaps using split applications; starter fertilizers and banding of fertilizers should be used where appropriate to reduce losses from vegetables; pest and disease infestation must be minimized; any irrigation must be applied carefully with scheduling. Research is now moving on to study whole farm systems and the interactions between losses of nitrogen and other pollutants to the environment with the aim of minimizing total environmental impact.

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Section: Continuing Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrate leaching from arable and horticultural land

Goulding¹

2000

Soil Use and Management

211

107

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“…Individual activities are scored depending upon the amount of hazard to the environment they pose. Scores are artificial numbers attributed to particular events or actions (Lewis et al, 1997a) and are numerical representations of the relative importance of an environmental impact (or some other) event. The approach aims to reflect the potential impact whilst conveying complex information regarding the hazards posed by particular actions in an easily understood manner.…”

Section: The Eco-rating Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating a technique used to measure environmental performance within agriculture–case studies

Lewis¹,

Tzilivakis²

1998

Eco‐Mgmt. Aud.

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A methodology has been developed which can be used to assess the environmental performance of a farm. The computer-based system, known as EMA, utilises a checklist auditing process based on both quantitative and qualitative data and looks, holistically, at the farm assessing a wide range of farming activities including crop production, crop protection, resource and waste management, livestock husbandry and conservation. The system relies on the use of eco-ratings which are activity based performance indices derived by comparing actual farm practices with what is perceived to be site specific best practice. The system utilises a similar approach to that used in standard environmental management systems, such as ISO14001, by providing a scale for performance measurement to allow monitoring of improvements and progress, and to permit performance highs and lows to be identified. The system has recently under-gone piloting and evaluation in-house, on-farm and in collaboration with a major UK Retailer, Safeway Stores plc. This paper describes this process and presents the findings in the form of case studies. A brief description of the system is included for completeness.

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Section: The Eco-rating Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating a technique used to measure environmental performance within agriculture-case studies

Lewis

Tzilivakis

1998

Eco-Mgmt. Aud.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A methodology has been developed which can be used to assess the environmental performance of a farm. The computer-based system, known as EMA, utilizes a checklist auditing process based on both quantitative and qualitative data and looks, holistically, at the farm assessing a wide range of farming activities including crop production, crop protection, resource and waste management, livestock husbandry and conservation. The system relies on the use of eco-ratings which are activity based performance indices derived by comparing actual farm practices with what is perceived to be site specific best practice. The system utilizes a similar approach to that used in standard environmental management systems, such as ISO 14001, by providing a scale for performance measurement to allow monitoring of improvements and progress, and to permit performance highs and lows to be identified.The system has recently undergone piloting and evaluation in house, on farm and in collaboration with a major UK retailer, Safeway Stores plc. This paper describes this process and presents the findings in the form of case studies. A brief description of the system is included for completeness.

show abstract

Scoring and ranking farmland conservation activities to evaluate environmental performance and encourage sustainable farming

Cited by 8 publications

References 6 publications

Nitrate leaching from arable and horticultural land

Nitrate leaching from arable and horticultural land

Evaluating a technique used to measure environmental performance within agriculture–case studies

Evaluating a technique used to measure environmental performance within agriculture-case studies

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