REPORT OF HEAD OF PLANNING

TO: CABINET MEMBER /DIRECTOR MEETING

DATE: 3RD MAY 2002

RE: FARMING CONNECT

REF: RC/12

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. The Farming Connect Draft Action Plan has been received by the department. Below is a synopsis of the plan, highlighting those areas where the objectives of Farming Connect reflect actions contained within the Carmarthenshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan.

1.2. Farming Connect has been established to enable farming families to maximise their income and foster and entrepreneurial culture within a frame work that is environmentally sustainable. The services delivered by Farming Connect will equip agriculture to play its part in dealing with the key environmental issues affecting rural Wales, which are set out in the Farming Connect Draft Action Plan ( March 2002).

1.3. The initiative was launched by the National Assembly on 17^th September 2001. Working through a wide range of partner organisations, farmers are provided with free access to a wide range of business advice, specialist technical information, training and capital grants.

2. CAPACITY OF THE SCHEME

2.1. The capacity exists to deal with some 1500 Farm Business Development Plans per annum. Eligible farms must have a registered holding number; an existing annual labour requirement of at least 550 hours per farm and three years worth of accounts. In addition all applicants must comply with the requirements of Good Farming Practice as set out in the Rural Development Plan for Wales.

3. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME

3.1. The main objectives of this Action Plan are as follows:

To ensure that the environmental elements of Farming Connect are delivered as an integral part of the new service.

To link with both the revision and the delivery of existing Action Plans for the Organic, Dairy and Red Meat sectors and with existing strategies for the delivery of Objective 1&2.

To demonstrate the practical and economic advantages of sustainable farm practices to all participating farmers in a way which helps generate new enthusiasm for the environment amongst the industry.

To ensure that all environmental assets are taken into account during the process of preparing Farm Business Development Plans (FBDP's). In particular to highlight new opportunities for sustainable use of natural resources, reduction of environmental risks and avoidance of pollution.

To provide clear environmental targets and indicators as a contribution towards measuring the overall success of Farming Connect.

To establish clear roles for both voluntary and private environmental sectors as well as for statutory organisations

4. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

4.1. The action plan sets out the key environmental issues which will be tackled through the use of the demonstration farms as follows:

Delivery of Good Farming Practice as set out in the Wales RDP

Adoption of Codes of Good Agricultural Practice for Air, Soil and Water

Compliance with the Green Code (Code of practice for safe use of pesticides on farms and farm holdings, MAFF, 1998)

Safe storage and use of Pesticides, Sheep Dip and Avermectins

Nutrient Management Planning including Integrated Crop Management and Precision Farming

Management of Farm Wastes and Manures

Compliance with EC Groundwater Directive and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Management of Water Resources on the Farm

Measures to minimise Soil Erosion

Bio-security techniques and the role of Mixed Farming Systems

Management of Organic Systems

Woodland Management and Added-Value Timber Processing

Management of Energy Resources/ Biomass Projects

Habitat Management and Restoration- heathland, species-rich grassland, wetland, coastal land etc

Management of Arable Land for Wildlife

Management for Key Species such as bats, black grouse, lapwing, etc.

Conservation of Archaeological and Historic Features

Management of Public Access including Educational Facilities

Control of scrub, bracken and invasive species such as rhododendron

Management of River Corridors and Fisheries

Management of Traditional Field Boundaries.

4.2. The purpose of the Action Plan is to ensure that the advantages of sustainable farming are clearly demonstrated in ways which help build new enthusiasm for the environment amongst the industry. A network of up to 30 new demonstration farms will be established to promote this concept, and these will demonstrate the issues described above.

4.3. The Farming Connect budget includes provision for six new capital grant schemes - Farm Enterprise Grant (FEG), Farm Improvement Grant (FIG), Farm Tourism Grant, Timber Processing Grant, Processing and Marketing Grant and the Shelterwoods Grant. Preparation of a Farm Business Development Plan is mandatory for access to all grants. The farmer is also responsible for obtaining all necessary statutory consents for any proposed works before commencing work.

4.4. Objectives of any new environmental grant scheme will include, among others the following :

Development of systematic approaches to the management of BAP species, habitats, landscape features, archaeological remains and public access at identified sites or within specific local areas (defined groups of farms), some of which may be in Tir Gofal/OFS and some which may not

Pioneering innovative techniques of management which, if successful, could later form part of a more wide ranging national agri-environment programme encompassing additional measures for the protection of air, soil and water resources

Provision of linkages between existing habitats that are physically isolated from each other

5. LINKS WITH LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLANS

5.1. Clearly there will be links between the Farming Connect project and the implementation of the Carmarthenshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan, and it will be necessary to liaise with the relevant Farming Connect staff, particularly regarding the implementation of the habitat and species action plans, and in reporting back on action achieved. It would be appropriate Farming Connect to join the LBAP partnership.

5.2. The draft action plan also includes a suite of nine performance indicators of particular relevance are those listed below:

Populations of farmland birds

Populations of key farmland species other than birds

The area of spring sown cereals and root crops within the LFA

Size of salmonid fish stock

Area of broadleaved and mixed woodland under active management.

6. PROPOSAL

6.1. It is proposed that the Carmarthenshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership seek to develop mechanisms for working effectively with Farming Connect in achieving their common goals of conserving and enhancing biodiversity.

7. RECOMMENDATION

7.1. It is recommended that Cabinet Member/Director endorse the proposal that the Carmarthenshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership seek to develop mechanisms for working effectively with Farming Connect in achieving their common goals of conserving and enhancing biodiversity.