Soil and Water
Catchment Sensitive Farming
The Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (CSFDI) is part of the Defra response to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).
Catchment Sensitive Farming is land management that keeps diffuse emissions of pollutants to levels consistent with the ecological sensitivity and uses of rivers, groundwaters and other aquatic habitats, both in the immediate catchment and further downstream. It includes appropriately managing the use of fertilisers, manures and pesticides; promoting good soil structure and rain infiltration to avoid run-off and erosion, protecting watercourses from faecal contamination, sedimentation and pesticides, reducing stocking density, managing stock on farms to avoid compaction and poaching of land, and separating clean and dirty water on farms.
There are a number of approaches to ensure that these practices are adopted: advice, scheme and regulation; these are all managed through the Catchment Sensitive Farming Programme. The Programme is delivered in 40 target priority catchments by a team of project officers. Farmers are able to obtain free advice from the project officers either directly or through organised meetings. Grant aid may be available for work to minimise diffuse water pollution at intervals during the programme. Further details are available on the Defra website.
