Climate change, and its disruptive effect on rainfall, is causing problems for crop and grassland farmers across the UK with over a third of farmers needing to invest in improving drainage and a quarter of farmers expecting to invest in irrigation and/or water storage in the immediate future.
The survey, carried out by the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) asked what changes in rainfall farmers had noticed in the past five years and how any change was affecting their farming practices.
The key findings of the survey indicated that unpredictable rainfall patterns were now widespread and were beginning to impact on farm management practices. The survey showed that:
· Majority (89%) experienced changes in rainfall over last 5 years, particularly in pattern as well as level
· 1 in 5 feel they would benefit from investment in water storage facilities in the immediate future
· 39% said they need to invest either now or in near future in irrigation and/or water storage equipment
· Almost a quarter (23%) had experienced problems with existing drainage systems
Commenting on the survey, RASE Chief Executive, Denis Chamberlain, said: "The Society published a report on the state of the nation’s soils back in 2008 and followed up with a further report on water and climate change two years later. This survey is the next step in RASE’s programme of activity to help farmers better manage their soil and water resources.
"No-one will be particularly surprised by the findings but they do represent a wake-up call. Results show clearly that rainfall pattern, whether stimulated by climate change or not, has noticeably changed and that such change is affecting farm management practices.
"The changes are affecting drilling and crop establishment on arable farms and causing disruption to grassland harvest and housing periods on livestock farms. In some areas the issue is less rainfall; or in others it is a change in pattern and timing; in all cases the change is becoming too marked to be ignored."
A total of 356 farmers were surveyed across the UK – mainly by telephone but supported by online. Other key findings included:
· Compaction, waterlogging and poaching are the biggest soil related problems.
· Farmers’ greatest challenge for next few years is lack of rain or rain not falling at the right time
Rainfall
· 62% seen change in level of rainfall
Greatest decrease:
· East England
· East and West Midlands
· Yorkshire and Humberside
· Regions where more farmers have noticed an increase as opposed to decrease:
· North East
· North West
Rainfall – Changes in pattern
· 73% noticed a change in pattern of rainfall
· Changes to pattern summarised as:
· Erratic – unpredictable
· Long periods of wet or dry
· Heavy downpours (rather than steady rain)
· Summers wetter
· Winter & spring drier
Overall 89% of respondents had noticed a change in the level of rainfall and/or the pattern of rainfall
The main problems caused were identified as:
· Arable farmers:
· Poor crop establishment
· Lower growth and reduced yields
· Harvest timing problems
· Increased amount of grain to be dried
· Livestock farmers:
· Shortages of grass
· Problems with hay & silage making
Farm Drainage
· 83% farms had drainage, with 73% having clay tile or pipe under drainage
· South East sees least need for drainage
· North East and North West has greater reliance on under drainage than ditches compared to elsewhere
Drainage problems
· 23% had experienced problems with their drainage
· Problems were not linked to any one type of drainage
· North East had had proportionally more problems and previously more farmers in the NE said they had seen more rainfall in the last 5 years
· Problems included: flooding, waterlogging and ponding and were due to blockages, collapses, drains unable to cope or in need of maintenance
· 37% of farmers surveyed felt their farms would benefit from investment in new drainage
Effects of Drainage problems
· 75% of those with drainage problems led to crop or livestock management challenges including:
· Poor seed establishment – some re-drilling
· Poor yields
· Difficulty getting onto the land
· Livestock have to be moved or brought inside
· Some management changes included investment in new machinery or new drainage
Irrigation
· 13% of those surveyed use irrigation on their farm
· 41% source the water from their own reservoirs
· 35% from rivers
· 33% from boreholes
Investment in irrigation and water storage
· 27% of all respondents feel their farm would benefit from investment in
· new irrigation equipment 8%
· water storage facilities 19%
· An additional 12% said they have no present need but anticipate requiring more in the future
· Total of 39% saying they need to invest either now or in near future in irrigation and/or water storage.
Soils
· 92% of respondents are undertaking soil testing every 5 years, while 38% are testing on an annual basis (note this is possibly not same fields every year, but rotational testing each year)
· Respondents were asked to rate a list of soil challenges by how much of a problem they were. Those citing a soil challenge as ’quite a bit of a problem’ or a ’considerable problem’ on their farm were considered to be those experiencing problems.
Biggest soil problems are:
· Compaction – 22%
· Poaching – 14%
· Water-logging – 11%
When look at primary enterprise –
· compaction and water-logging increase in importance on arable farms
· Poaching increases in importance where livestock is the primary enterprise
"The results of the survey are now being studied by an RASE working group. It will help us fine tune a major event this autumn, Soil and Water 2012 at Stoneleigh on Wednesday 14th November, which will be followed by more practical regional farm events in 2013. This issue is not going to go away and RASE intends to take the initiative, working with other industry partners to help find practical solutions to ensure UK farmers can continue to raise their output and minimise their environmental impact in these challenging times," said Mr Chamberlain.
