Farmers across Devon and Cornwall are being prompted by the Environment Agency (EA) to eschew planting "high risk" crops like maize, fodder beet, potatoes, and other root vegetables on unsuitable terrains to avert soil erosion and subsequent muddy run-off.
Targeting areas with both light and heavy soils, the campaign emphasizes the need for meticulous soil management amidst escalating weather extremities, aiming to reduce soil compaction and run-off. The EA's guidance includes selecting suitable crops, implementing cover crops, maintaining buffer zones, and curbing overgrazing to uphold soil integrity.
Moreover, the agency has put farmers on notice regarding potential enforcement actions for non-compliance with the Farming Rules for Water established in 2018. "We want to raise awareness of how devastating flooding is when exacerbated by the production of high-risk crops in unsuitable locations, so farmers can make more sustainable decisions in line with our changing climate," remarked James Wimpress, land management project manager for the EA in Devon and Cornwall.
Source: bbc.com
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