Support water-friendly farming

Agriculture is responsible for significant water pollution and damage to the physical condition of soil, rivers and wetlands. Many rivers and groundwaters are now polluted with high levels of agricultural fertilisers and pesticides. However, changes in the huge financial support to farming could protect rural economies while reducing this damage to water.

Help farmers to prevent pollution and restore degraded soils, rivers and wetlands through advice, training and payments

1. By 2007, Defra should commit to funding a sustained national programme of support, training and advice for farmers, building on the Catchment Sensitive Farming Programme.
   
2. By 2007, Defra must extend the ‘Nitrates Directive’ action plan to the whole of England.
   
3. By 2008, Defra and the Treasury must fully fund the Environmental Stewardship Scheme to reward farmers for improving water and soil quality at a catchment scale, without compromising existing biodiversity objectives.
   
4. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must be reformed at the earliest opportunity to replace current farm subsidies with a single rural fund that pays for public benefits from land management, including better water quality, more wildlife and sustainable rural economies.