Many water companies as part of their commitment to environmental protection have introduced stewardship campaigns. These schemes encourage farmers to consider how their working practices impact on the environment and the measures that can be taken toprevent pollution. It has always proved difficult, given that many factors will impact on a campaign, to evaluate how effective such schemes have been in mitigating the negative impact of farming practices on the environment. This study has chosen to monitor the level of pesticides in a catchment and has used any significant changes as an indicator of the effectiveness of such a stewardship campaign. In 1999, the levels of pesticide in a catchment were monitored. The results of this monitoring were presented to farmers in the area and advice on how to reduce the levels of pesticides entering the water given. The following years monitoring showed a reduction in general levels of pesticides, however there still remained some high peaks of pesticide believed to be from point source pollution events such as drips or spillage. The results were again presented to the farmers and further advice on better practice given. This year's study has continued to monitor the area and has also included the monitoringof an adjoining catchment of similar size, with a similar farming regime but where at present no advice has been given to the farmers. This study will allow a direct comparison between the two areas which will show how effective our farmsafe campaign has been and additionally whether or not such campaigns are viable methods to use to reduce pesticide losses to water. The study will allow us to consider ways in which the campaign can be improved with a view to extending the scheme to other problem areas within other catchments.
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