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Agriculture and Water QualityDevelopments and challenges in science, management and policy in 2013-2017: Examples from a few countries
Dico Fraters, Karel Kovar, Brian Kronvang, Roland Stenger, Carl Bolster
Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
2 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
In the beginning there was chaos… as expressed in Karel’s handwriting
A. Systems function
B. Monitoring
C. Climate change
D. Assessmentof policies
E. Impact of land management practices
F. Management protected areas
G. Decision makingon programmesof measures
H. Implementationof programmesof measures
Land Use and Water Quality conferences
3 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Land Use and Water Quality conferences
170 participantsfrom 30 countries
175 participantsfrom 31 countries
195 participantsfrom 29 countries
4 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
A. Systems function
B. Monitoring
C. Climate change
D. Assessmentof policies
E. Impact of land management practices
F. Management protected areas
G. Decision makingon programmesof measures
H. Implementationof programmesof measures
LuWQ scheme and themes
5 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Improving water quality
Reducing emissions
Po
licy and
science
Man
agem
ent
Developments andchallenges
1.Policy2.Management3.Science
Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
7 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Examples
USA
New Zealand
Denmark
NetherlandsEuropeUSA
Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 20178
Clean Water Rule (2015)USA Federal regulation
Source: EPA Water Quality Assessment
− Clarifies, by rule, waters subject to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (1972)
− The Rule clarifies that smaller tributaries andheadwaters that have a significant connection with downstream waters are under federal jurisdiction
− It does not modify the CWA in regards to controlling non-point source pollution and leaves in place exemptions for agriculture
− Not yet implemented due to court challenges Opposed by business and
agriculture stakeholder groups
− Current administration plans to repeal and replace
USA regulations at state level: Ohio
9 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
● Entire State: applicators are required to be certified if they are applying manure from confined animal feeding facilities to more than 50 acres (20 ha)
● Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB): Spreading of manure or commercial fertilizer is banned during unfavourable soil and/or weather conditionsAllowable if injected or incorporated within 24 hr or if applied to growing crop
● Designation of distressed watersheds (Grand Lake St. Marys)– No manure application from 15 Dec – 1 Mar
without prior approval– Similar restrictions as WLEB rest of year
Algae bloom (NOAA/Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory)
Grand Lake St. Marys (Wikipedia)
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreementan example how federal, state, and local agencies are partnering to address water quality issues in a major water body
− Designed to achieve clean water, abundant life, conserved lands, and engaged communities
− Recognizes importance of local governments, individual citizens, businesses, watershed groups and NGOs
− Signatories to the voluntary agreement have committed to establishing goals and outcomes for the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed
10 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Source: Wikipedia
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/chesapeakebaywatershedagreement
11 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement− Aligns closely with strategies detailed in President
Obama’s Executive Order on Bay protection and restoration
− 10 interrelated goals, 31 outcomes, and 25 management strategies
− Establishes outcomes for each goal, 2-year milestones, and measurable targets
− Uses Bay-wide Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) developed by EPA in 2010. Aim is:• 60% of actions to be completed by 2017• Full restoration of Bay by 2025
1985 2009 2015
Phosphorus loads
2017 target
2025 target
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/chesapeakebaywatershedagreement
Phosphorus indices – a simple tool
12 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
− The P index is a simple model used to assess vulnerability of P loss from agricultural fields
− The P index has come under significant criticism:• Lack of measurable declines in P in important
water bodies• Increased soil test P levels in many fields• Many P indices developed based on
professional judgment rather than scientific data
• Large amount of diversity in P indices among the states
− Many of the criticisms of P index were addressed in USDA-NRCS Revised Nutrient Management Standard (590) Photo of Lower Des Plaines River
by Cindy Skrukrud
13 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
− Ideally: a P index should be evaluated and/or updated using measured P loss dataHowever, very few data sets exist:
Cost and time prohibitive !− Alternatively: compare P index output with
output from process-based P loss models• Advantage – not data limited,
can test a wide range of conditions• Disadvantage – model must be a realistic
representation of the processes governing P loss in the region of interest
• Recommended by SERA-17 Working Group when data are unavailable
• USDA-NRCS funded research to evaluate accuracy of P index in 3 regions
Evaluating and improving P indices
Courtesy: Andrew Sharpley
log(y) = 0.76*log(x) - 0.93r2 = 0.84
Revised KY PI
0.1 1 10 100
Mea
sure
d P
loss
(lbs
P/a
cre)
0.01
0.1
1
10
Presentation about PMonday afternoon,
including:A proxy for P risk in
tile drained landscapes (abstract #139)
14 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Examples
USA
New Zealand
EuropeNetherlands
Denmark
European Union’s water quality legislation at a glance
Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000)- Ground and surface water bodies- Both quality and quantity- Realisation of good quality in 2027
Nitrate Directive (ND, 1991)- Waters influenced by nitrogen (and
phosphorus ) pollution - Obligation to designate vulnerable
areas, make action plans and report about progress
15 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Denmark
Netherlands
‐
50
100
150
1980 1990 2000 2010
Consequences of abolishment of milk quota The Netherlands
16 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Cattle number Index (2000 = 100%)
2008 formal decision to abolish milk quota in 2015 Start increase number of cows
1984 milk quotas enter in to force
2015: End of quotas
Nitrate (mg/L) root zone leaching200
150
100
50
-1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016
Presentation of evaluations of WFD (#7)and ND (#51) on Wednesday afternoon
Netherlands’ policies to decrease number of cattle1. Act “Sustainable growth of dairies” (2016)− Growth possible if land area is increased− The more intensive (livestock number / area)
the more land should be acquired in case of growth
2. Phosphate Reduction Agreement (2017)− Reduction phosphate in fodders − Farm closure scheme− Measures by milking and milk products sector
3. Phosphate Act (2018)− Each dairy receives phosphate production rights− Rights are tradable
17 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Delta plan Agrarian Water managementGoals: improving water quantity and quality, including minimising nutrient and pesticide emissions and improving soil quality
Voluntary measures:- measures may differ per project, - voluntary but with subsidies to make
projects feasible
Co-operation between: - Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture, - Water boards and - other organisations, such as Provinces and
Drinking water production companies
18 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
http://agrarischwaterbeheer.nl/
Example presented by Van den Brink (#100) on Special Session 2 this afternoon
30 project
0
50
100
150
200
1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015
National network (LMM) Provincial network (BVM) project Water company (DSG)
A political turmoil about a scientific method
Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 201719
Question raised in parliament in 2014
“What is your opinion on the … shortcomings of the methods used by
RIVM ..”
Nitrate concentration (mg/L) in root zone leachingat farms in the Loess Region in the Netherlands
EU standard
Farmers’ press 2014:Nitrate results RIVM
too high (RIVM)
Increasing farmer dissatisfaction with agri-environment policies in DenmarkAgricultural Package launched by Danish Government in December 2015 − Farmers allowed to again
fertilise to the economic optimum fertilisation was below
since 1998 and in 2016 it was around
20% below economic optimum
− Danish Buffer Strip Law removed (in force since 2012) no more mandatory
10 m BSs around all watercourses and lakes
20 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Emission of nitrogen to the Sea in Denmark
Numbers in tonnes N
Target Loading
Goal of New Danish Plan for Agriculture (February 2016):
Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 201721
Total Nitrogen retention (%)Nitrogen attenuation/retention map (August 2015)
Total N retention
More targeted and emissions based regulationby: (1) accounting for natural attenuation at
coastal and catchment scale and (2) selecting the best mitigation measures
per field and catchment
− Focus on (a) developing new N mitigation options and (b) longer term introduction of emission
based regulations
− Funding for establishing 200 additionalmonitoring stations Farmers prefer monitoring over models
22 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
In Denmark, a programme has been established involving 25 new Catchment Consultants to assist farmers as intermediary managers for choosing suitable mitigation measures on his/her land – they bring in a bag of ideas from research
Choosing suitable mitigation measures
Ministry for Food and Environment
Catchment Consultants Farmer
23 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
New targeted management of agricultural production is coming in Denmark 2017-2021: Needs for new scientifically approved mitigation measures – ongoing research on several technologies
Approved mitigation measure2017
Field and transport mitigation measures1
2
24 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Intelligent Buffer zone (IBZ)Constructed July 2014
OutletInlet
High efforts on scientific test of Nitrogen effects of mitigation measures
Total removalRemoval wetland
Zak et al., unpublished,Special Session S1, Tuesday
25 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
CW 1 +2 horizontal flow CW 3 +4 vertical upward flow
CW 6 vertical downward flow
Sub-Surface Matrix flow Constructed wetlands
53-54 g N/m2/year 38-46 g N/m2/year
45-60 g N/m2/year
Hoffmann et al., unpublishedSpecial Session S1- Tuesday
26 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Examples
USA
New Zealand
EuropeNetherlands
Denmark
Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 201727
2014: New Zealand Government’s twin challenge‘doubling export earnings from primary production, while maintaining or improving water quality’.
Ministry for the Environment/StatsNZ 2017: “In monitored rivers, nitrate-nitrogen was worsening (55%) at more sites than improving (28%), and dissolved reactive phosphorus was improving (42%) at more sites than worsening (25%) between 1994 and 2013.”
Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 201728
2014: New Zealand Government’s twin challenge‘doubling export earnings from primary production, while maintaining or improving water quality’.
Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor 2017: “…is it really possible to have our cake and eat it too? As a nation, do we have the scientific understanding, the management tools, the policy solutions, and the resolve to do it?”
InitiativeOur Land and Water National Science Challenge
29 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Co-management by Māori and Government,an example from Aotearoa/New Zealand
Waikato river, New Zealand’s longest river is co-managed by central and local government and five iwi (Māori tribes)
Māori as guardians - agreed water quality goals are more ambitious than those applicable to the whole country: “safe for people to swim in and take food from over its entire length”
Waikato Regional Council CEO: “There's now real ownership by iwi of our common challenges and, most importantly, the solutions to those challenges.”
30 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Co-management by Māori and Government,finding solutions to the challenges
Māori as resource users
26% of the total Māori asset base is located in Waikato – amounting to > 6 billion NZ$
Fishing, forestry, sheep & beef, dairy, kiwifruit, nutraceuticals, tourism, geothermal energy, …
Māori strive for economically successful management of their assets in balance with their guardianship responsibilities
31 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Wed, 31 May, 15:30 – 16:00, Ken Taylor: Our Land and Water National Science Challenge: Science to transform our agricultural landscapes (abstract #156)
1. Wrap up - PolicyEuropean Union (examples from Denmark & the Netherlands)− Abolishment of the milk quota system in 2015 threatens the water
quality improvements reached in the past− Increasing farmers’ dissatisfaction with agri-environment policies
New Zealand− Serious questions about the twin challenge of
a) ‘doubling the country’s export earnings from primary production b) while maintaining or improving water quality’
United States of America− More waters subject to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act,
but restricted to point source pollution − At state level legislation has been passed to limit agricultural diffuse
pollution
32 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
2. Wrap-up ManagementEuropean Union (examples from Denmark & the Netherlands)− More responsibility for farmers to reach good water quality − Closer co-operation between farmers, water managers and local
authorities
New Zealand− Increasing role of Māori (Aotearoa/New Zealand’s indigenous people) as
guardians and resource users
United States of America− Federal, state, and local agencies are partnering to address water
quality issues− Signatories to the voluntary agreement have committed to establishing
goals and outcomes
33 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
3. Wrap-up Science
Science is increasingly involved in: - Underpinning environmentally sound agricultural practices and
measures to reduce impact of practices- Underpinning of environmental targets and - Measuring achievement of targets (monitoring status and trend).
As a consequence: science is being more closely scrutinised and sometimes will come under fire as stakeholders question credibility of research methods used, in case results lead to painful additional measures
34 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
Key messages− Water quality improvements reached in the past may be threatened
by modifications in regulations not directly related to agri-environmental policies as well as by pressure exerted by stakeholders leading to major changes in agri-environmental policies (Europe)
− It remains to be seen whether increasing agricultural production and improving water quality at the same time is more than an illusion (New Zealand)
− Lack of a (supra)national policy and legislation may lead to only small and/or local steps in improving water quality (USA)
35 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017
ChallengesAs the easy wins to reach environmental goals are often realised, there is a need for:
− Development of more targeted and tailor-made measures that are able to effectively balance social, economic and environmental goals
− A better underpinning and clarification, and an open discussion about: • The targets to realise the goals• The measures to reach these targets• The methods to measure achievement of targets
36 Agriculture and Water Quality, developments and challenges | 29 May 2017