Mr. Eddie Burgess:

I agree completely with the Chairman's comments and concerns. In the project I work on there are more than 300 farmers and we are monitoring the nitrates action programme. We had to encourage them to engage and work with us, and that was not easy. Over time they have, by and large, built an interest in water quality. Some are happy for us to be there but have not really engaged with us. It is difficult and farmers are not rewarded financially for water quality. It is seen as a regulation that restricts their productivity and income. It is seen as a compliance issue for which they could be penalised. It is very easy, if we do not bring people with us, for people to become isolated, resent the process and not want to engage. It is very important to bring people with us.

What has worked well with our process are the small farmer discussion groups. These are groups of between eight and 18 and we explain aspects of water quality, doing a visual demonstration of small stream characterisation. We do a kick sample and show them the life in the riverbed. Most farmers would not be aware of that, although for every ten farmers, nine would have a stream on their land with that life in it. It is very beneficial for them to see that.

On the different agricultural sectors, the dairy industry, by and large, has been the most engaged and the processing co-ops are the most engaged with water quality because the expansion of that industry is largely dependent on that derogation from the nitrates directive, which has been mentioned.

In the rules that have been brought in to maintain good water quality, dairy is in focus because of the expansion that has taken place since the removal of quotas. I think other sectors of agriculture in general need to have the same level of engagement with water quality that the dairy industry has shown, and they are not doing so. It comes back to some of the points that Dr. McGoff made in her presentation. I agree that compliance with regulation is an issue, but the regulations need to work and need to be put in place. It is very easy for some approaches to be over-simplified. For example, there is a lot more that leads to nitrate loss than nitrate application rate. The soil type, the weather, the actual farming system and the timing of application all have huge impacts on nitrate loss. It is ironic. Sometimes we see places where there is a very small nitrogen application or stocking rate and there is a much larger nitrate loss. In order to bring farmers with us, the regulations need to be effective. If they are misplaced, people will resent them, will be alienated and will not engage with us.