As an actively engaged…

As an actively engaged farmer I am concerned with any nutrient run off that leaves my farm. I strive to achieve a standard when it comes to my environmental foot print.

It appears to me that the policy is heading in the right direction. We need to manage run off and utilize cover crops when ever possible to capture excess nutrients before then can leave the field.

One concern that I do have is with Section B1, item 5, which discusses a review of Agricultural drainage. I want to make a point that tile drainage helps to significantly reduce the amount of surface run off on our farms, which of course also reduces that particulate phosphorus load. We must maintain and increase our use of tile drainage to help reduce that run off.

I am however in favour of exploring the impact of dissolved phosphorus that is entering the waterways through tile. If there is technology that can help reduce that load, while still managing the good that tile drainage provides, than this will only increase the benefit to the environment that tile drainage provides.

Thank you

[Original Comment ID: 209395]