How two growers are using regenerative farming to protect water >More in
John Hawkins
Pressure to reverse excessive nitrate leaching into both the Wessex Water borehole and wider Poole Harbour catchments has led Dorset farmer John Hawkins to radically reshape his farm in the past three years.
The borehole supplies up to 8m litres of water a day, but can be out of action for three to six months of the year because of excessive nitrogen, explains Tim Stephens, a catchment adviser for Wessex Water, who has supported Mr Hawkins closely during the transition.
In total, about 2,000t of nitrogen from 400-500 farms, plus Wessex Water sewage works, enters the Poole Harbour catchment a year.
FW Opinion: Return of events highlights arable sector split
fwi.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fwi.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Does lump sum retirement offer for farmers go far enough?
edp24.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from edp24.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Farming basic payment scheme reforms
midweekherald.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from midweekherald.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.