Linking Environment and Farming
NOTE LEAF Marque standards are in addition to baseline certification which includes Red Tractor, FAWL and Lion Code. Further information here.
See below for notes 17a to 17d
17a
Soil management
Control point 2.1 requires a soil management plan including a map, identifying risks to soil health, strategies to improve/maintain biological, physical and chemical attributes of soil health and measures to build soil organic matter.
Control point 2.7 requires a risk assessment to ensure the timing, field conditions, equipment and soil management techniques are appropriate. Includes requirement to assess risk/demonstrate that operations and grazing have minimum environmental impact and to ensure no significant visual evidence of soil damage such as compaction or soil erosion.
Control point 2.14 requires annual soil health assessments to include earthworm counts.
Additionally, the Recommendations include:
BEEF & LAMB/COMBINABLE CROPS For winter-grazed brassica crops, reduce the risk of run-off by only growing on appropriate fields*. Manage the grazing to prevent run-off (e.g. graze from the top of a sloping field). Preferably avoid root crops which leave the soil bare when grazed and instead use leafy brassicas and other species, grazing them rotationally to allow regrowth to keep soil protected.
BEEF & LAMB/COMBINABLE CROPS/DAIRY Grow maize only on appropriate fields*. Minimise bare soil after harvest either by undersowing in spring with a cover crop that remains after the maize harvest or, if not undersown, use an early maturing maize variety and then as soon as possible after harvest sow a cereal crop or a quick growing cover crop in time to establish before winter.
17b
Nutrient management
Control point 2.3 requires an integrated nutrient management plan based on regular soil testing, taking account of nutrients in soil, manures etc and demonstrating optimal use of inputs.
Additionally the Recommendations include:
BEEF & LAMB/DAIRY/PIGS/POULTRY Do not build soil phosphorus beyond target indices. Where soil nutrient indices are higher than target levels, consider undertaking a farmgate nutrient balance to identify opportunities to bring the farm into nutrient balance (e.g. exporting surplus manures or reducing bought in feeds).
COMBINABLE CROPS /HORTICULTURE Do not build soil phosphorus beyond target indices.
POTATOES Plan nutrient applications to ensure that manures and fertilisers are applied to meet the specific needs of the variety grown. Do not build soil phosphorus beyond target indices and ensure that total phosphorus inputs do not exceed the amounts removed in crops during the rotation.
17c
Manure applications
Control point 2.13 requires that control measure are implemented to minimise the loss of nutrients when applying organic matter.
Control point 4.2 Requires a manure management plan to include strategies to minimise emissions when applying slurry, records of applications etc.
Manure and slurry storage
Control point 5.3 requires that organic material, digestate, compost, silage, silage effluent, slurry and solid organic matter are stored according to best practice. Requires regulatory requirements as a minimum and also specifies active programme of inspection, maintenance and repair.
Control point 5.4 requires that there is adequate safeholding capacity for animal manure and slurry for the requirements of the business. Includes a requirement to have records demonstrating regular inspection and maintenance.
Control point 5.5 requires that dirty water and silage effluent are collected and safely recycled and specifies that production of dirty water is minimised and sufficient storage is provided to allow for its effective use.
17d
Water resource management
Control point 7.1 requires a water management plan to include water use efficiency and targets with actions to optimise water use efficiency.
Control point 7.3 requires measurement of water use efficiency.
Control point 7.6 recommends that ‘Sources of water used are justified’ and ‘consideration has been given to progression and plans towards increasing the proportion of water used which are re-used and/or collected from periods of natural abundance
Additionally the Recommendations include:
POTATOES/HORTICULTURE Where possible install on-site water capture and storage to reduce abstraction.
