Environment Minister Phil Woolas has announced that the next phase of a programme to help farmers tackle the causes of harmful water pollution is taking shape. The England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative, which started in April 2006, is continuing. Defra and its delivery partners for the Initiative, Natural England and the Environment Agency, have now mapped out the next stages. The main elements are:

• A repeat of the 07-08 Capital Grant Scheme in 08-09 providing funding for farmers to make relatively low-cost infrastructure investments to tackle pollution.

• A further ten priority catchments to be added from autumn to the original forty. These are the key areas where changes in farm practices are being sought to reduce water pollution

• A further five dedicated Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers to join the existing network of forty-two Officers from autumn 2008 and work closely with local farmers.

• Nine new Regional Co-ordinators from summer to enhance delivery and link the Initiative with River Basin Management Planning for the Water Framework Directive and with other regional initiatives.

• A new Strategic Partnership Programme from autumn with national and regional partners outside the priority catchments.

• Extension of agreement for technical support from the Pesticides Voluntary Initiative.

Engagement with farmers will remain the main objective of the Initiative and there will continue to be an extensive programme of farmer events and farm visits. In the first two years the ECSFDI delivered advice to over 6,000 farmers, representing 15% of farm holdings (23% by area) within the forty priority catchments. Advice was delivered through more than five hundred group events and over 4,700 one-to-one farm visits. More than 14,000 farm-specific recommendations were made for measures to tackle diffuse pollution. Over 80% of farmers receiving advice from the ECSFDI confirmed their knowledge of water pollution had increased and that they had taken, or were intending to take, action to tackle water pollution.

Environment Minister Phil Woolas said:

"Catchment sensitive farming is at the heart of a sustainable and responsible agriculture industry. The Government has made its commitment in this area and I know that our delivery partners will play their full part too. It is now up to the farming industry to work with us on this. The more we can do together the less need there will be for regulation."

Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England said:

"We know the difference improved water quality can make to species such as otters and water voles. Natural England and farming bodies have been asking for an extension to the scheme for some time, and we're delighted that this has been agreed so the benefits can be fully realised. We can now look ahead with confidence to deliver catchment sensitive farming in partnership with the Environment Agency and the farmers involved."

Paul Leinster, Acting Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, added:

"I am very pleased that this Initiative continues and that Defra will maintain their support for farmers on catchment sensitive farming for the next three years. But of course we need to do even more. The first cycle of River Basin Management Plans under the Water Framework Directive will be signed next year and catchment sensitive farming measures will be very important in that context, to tackle the problems our water environment faces from diffuse pollution from agriculture."