Following almost two years of consultation, DEFRA has issued a consolidated code to protect water, soil and air in the agricultural sector.
The new code titled "Protecting our Water, Soil and Air: A Code of Good Agricultural Practice for farmers, growers and land managers" consolidates and updates the former three separate codes for water, soil and air. The publication offers practical interpretation of legislation and provides advice on best practice. The advice has been written by technical specialists from Defra and Natural England.
The code is a point of reference, based around the main operations that farmers, growers and land managers might undertake and the advice covers activities carried out in the field, but also management plans, farm infrastructure and waste management.
A soft copy of the code can be down loaded by following this link http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/cogap/pdf/cogap090106.pdf and a hard copy is also available, free of charge, from The Stationery Office, PO Box 29, Norwich, NR3 1GN.
