Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
[
64
]. The EU further has provided subsidies since 1975 for production on “less
favored areas” (LFAs) (now under the Rural Development Policy) to both ensure
income in low-productivity areas vulnerable to abandonment and maintain environ-
mental values dependent on agricultural production.
Member states are responsible for implementing cross-compliance, GAEC,
AEMs, and LFAs through national legislation and rules that defi ne standards known
as “good farming practices” (GFPs) or “good agricultural practices” (GAPs) [
66
].
GFPs vary widely between member states, due in part to variation in both ecosys-
tems and types of farming operations throughout Europe [
66
]. For example, cross-
compliance with the Nitrates Directive requires a determination of when application
of fertilizer is appropriate (e.g., sloped or wet areas) and mitigation practices such
as cover crops and good record keeping [
67
]. From an implementation perspective,
some member states require farmers to practice nutrient accounting and keep
records, while other member states take different approaches to reducing nutrient
runoff [
68
].
3
This is not unlike the United States, where the federal NRCS develops
Field Offi ce Technical Guidance (FOTG) down to the individual county level to
address site-specifi c and area resource concerns [
69
].
The EU places primary responsibility on member states to provide advisory ser-
vices to producers related to agri-environmental programs. The CAP requires that
member states operate a Farm Advisory System (FAS) to help farmers, on a volun-
tary basis, in complying with SMRs and GAECs [
70
]. Member states vary in how
they deliver FAS services in terms of whether the service is provided by private,
public, or hybrid entities, whether the service is free of charge, what type of service
is offered, and to whom it is offered [
71
]. In some member states, responsibility is
devolved to individual states (e.g., Germany) that differ in types of services pro-
vided. The majority of assistance consists of going through checklists one-on-one
or with small groups. FAS advice also extends to occupational health and safety
issues. One report has concluded that “experience of European farmers with energy
crop plantations is very limited, and transition to lignocellulosic feedstock systems
requires tailor-made agricultural extension services assisting farmers on the various
aspects of production from planting to harvesting” [
72
].
Thus, what existing tools are available for biomass growers to certify their sus-
tainability depends on the EU member state policy and practices in relation to the
environmental principle in question [
73
]. Member states also vary between and
within in the way they deliver advisory services to farmers. In the United States, on
the other hand, despite the fact that AEMs apply much less than to farms in Europe,
and the identifi cation of ecosystem-level resource concerns is in its nascency, the
federal NRCS does provide one central, consistent source for advice on designing
agri-environmental planning and practices. However, with the US federal budget
crisis severely curtailing agency funding, it is uncertain what level of service NRCS
3
European Commission, Report from the Commission, Implementation of Council Directive
91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricul-
tural sources, Synthesis from year 2000 Member States Reports, COM (2002) 407 fi nal, at 17-22.
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