Merrilees D, Duncan A
SAC Environmental, The Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW, UK.
Water Sci Technol. 2005;51(3-4):373-81.
The Scottish Executive considers 'Diffuse Pollution from Agricultural Enterprises' as a priority issue over the next 5-10 years and recognises the need to improve knowledge transfer, advice and training amongst farmers, crofters, contractors and advisers. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency commissioned SAC to survey advisory staff on diffuse pollution issues, mitigation measures and delivery of environmental advice to the farming industry. This showed that the impact of agricultural diffuse pollution on the environment is considered a serious problem as is the future impact of legislation on farm business. There is an urgent requirement to raise advisers' awareness of environmental legislation and of mitigation measures. Advisers consider that farmers have limited awareness of diffuse pollution problems but those that do would consider the impact on the environment to be serious. There is a lack of knowledge on the effectiveness of pollution mitigation measures. Better technical information, supported by research, is required. This information is best conveyed to advisers via the internet, technical notes and directly by environmental specialists and delivered on to farmers by farm visits. Lack of funds prevents most farmers adopting best management practices and more than 80% of advisers consider that environmental advice should be free.
苏格兰行政院将“农业企业的面源污染”视为未来5至10年的优先问题，并认识到有必要改善农民、小农场主、承包商和顾问之间的知识转移、建议和培训。苏格兰环境保护局委托苏格兰农学院对咨询人员就面源污染问题、缓解措施以及向农业行业提供环境建议的情况进行调查。结果显示，农业面源污染对环境的影响被视为一个严重问题，立法对农场经营的未来影响也是如此。迫切需要提高顾问对环境立法和缓解措施的认识。顾问们认为，农民对面源污染问题的认识有限，但那些有所认识的农民会认为其对环境的影响很严重。人们对污染缓解措施的有效性缺乏了解。需要有基于研究的更好的技术信息。这些信息最好通过互联网、技术说明，由环境专家直接传达给顾问，并通过农场走访传递给农民。资金短缺阻碍了大多数农民采用最佳管理做法，超过80%的顾问认为环境建议应该免费。
