Agricultural Monitoring in Estonia: Evaluation of Agri-environmental Measure (AE) of Rural Development Plan (RDP) (Koorberg)

Pille Koorberg

Head of Agri-Environmental Monitoring Bureau

[email protected]

AGRICULTURAL MONITORING IN ESTONIA

Evaluation of Agri-environmental Measure (AE) of Rural Development Plan

(RDP)

ANKARA, 24.10.2007

Population: 1,34 milj.Total area: 45 266 km²Forest area: ~50% of total area, 2,2 milj haAgricultural land: ~20% of total area, 850 000 haAverage cereal (rye, wheat, barley) yield: 2,7t/ha

The role of agricultural policy is going through changes – move from policy that has driven environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, to one that supports a sustainable and prosperous farming and land management sector across the Europe.

Production oriented agriculture is going to be combined with culture based traditional farming practices through diversified and innovative development of rural areas.

COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP) IS CHANGING

According to (EC) RDP Regulation 1257/1999 (2000-2006) and 1698/2005 (2007-2013) Member States must include in their RDP´s “provisions to ensure the effective and correct implementation of the plans, including monitoring and evaluation (M&E)”

USE OF MONITORING AND EVALUATION RESULTS

Results will able EC to observe the progress of implementation of RDP regulation in EU, also how well agri-environment scheme or measure is functioning practically and whether it is achieving the objectives

Collected data will be used to review and revise existing schemes and measures and to improve the design and development of future schemes and measures

EVALUATION OF ESTONIAN RDP AE 2004-2006

“PILOTING THE PROCEDURES”

- Start of baseline data collection

- Testing proposed indicators and methodologies

- Providing MoA with relevant data/ information to improve existing measures and to elaborate new measures

- Getting experience for 2007-2013 period learning by doing!

EVALUATION OF AE MEASURE

Additional information about the AE evaluation in Estonia –

www.pmk.agri.ee/pkt

Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) is the institution

under the MoA and is coordinating data collection work

related to AE evaluation, ARC will also perform the

function of “independent evaluator” for AE in 2004-2006

(for Axis II measures in 2007-2013 programme), an

additional external “independent evaluator” will be selected

for the evaluation of all other RDP measures.

RDP AE SCHEME 2004-2006

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

PRODUCTION SCHEME (EPS)

ORGANIC FARMING

LOCAL ENDANGERED BREEDS

ESTABLISHMENT, RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF STONEWALLS

(2005)

APPLICANT

EPS (Whole-farm scheme) Main requirements:

- crop sequence plan (15% leguminous)- fertilization plan (170 kg N total)- soil analyses- training (2 days)- keeping farm animals outdoors

AE EVALUATION 2004-2006

5 EVALUATION TOPICS:

LANDSCAPE – 2 impact indicators SOIL – 3 impact indicators WATER – 3 impact indicators BIODIVERSITY – 4 impact indicators SOCIO-ECONOMIC – 3 impact indicators

+ COMPLEX STUDY (organic farming field trial)

Data collection is financed by the EU RDP measure called Technical Assistance which is

meant for facilitating the implementation, controlling, monitoring and evaluation activities of

RDP itself.

DATA COLLECTION 2004-2006 (INDICATORS)

SOCIO-ECONOMIC: Farm income Share of organic products sold as organic Environmental awareness

SOIL: Soil organic matter Soil fertility (pH, K, P) Soil nutrients dynamics (pilot study)

BIODIVERSITY: Earthworms, soil microbs Birds Vascular plants Bumblebees

LANDSCAPE: Change in landscape structure in terms of point, linear and area elements General upkeep (visual appearance) of the farm

WATER: Nutrient balances Pesticide use Water quality pilot study

Methodology: mixed soil samples (~2000 samples, one sample per 3-5 ha)Start: 2004

Soil organic matter (%)

Soil fertility (pH, K, P)

SOIL MONITORING (1)

The objective of those indicators is to indicate if levels of soil fertility/soil organic matter for agricultural fields have been maintained or enhanced as a result of the implementation of AE schemes.

History of soil sampling goes back to 1960-ties. State funded soil fertility programme 2002-2004, from 2004 onwards taking soil samples is one of the obligations of AE measure.

Farmers will get fertilization and liming requirement maps.

Digitalised soil map (1: 10 000), linked with GIS database (soil type, texture), which will able to compare changes in soil properties in time and space scale.

Coordination and execution of soil monitoring studies in Estonia is responsibility of Agricultural Research Centre

SOIL MONITORING (2)

P sisaldus erinevatel ringidel

0,0%

10,0%

20,0%

30,0%

40,0%

50,0%

60,0%

70,0%

80,0%

90,0%

1965-69 1978-84 1984-89 00-06

v,madal

madal

keskmine

kõrge

v,kõrge

defitsiit

K sisaldus erinevatel ringidel

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

1965-69 1978-84 1984-89 2000-06

v.madal

madal

keskmine

kõrge

defitsiit

K-content in different soil sampling cycles

Very low

Low

Average

High

Deficiency

Very low

Low

Average

High

Very high

Deficiency

Mobile P in different soil sampling cycles

SOIL MONITORING (3)

95 325 soil samples taken411 879 ha of arable land covered (78%), 2006.

509150915091509150915091509150915091

509350935093509350935093509350935093

509050905090509050905090509050905090

509250925092509250925092509250925092

509450945094509450945094509450945094

509550955095509550955095509550955095

509650965096509650965096509650965096509750975097509750975097509750975097

509850985098509850985098509850985098

509950995099509950995099509950995099

502350235023502350235023502350235023

502450245024502450245024502450245024

502550255025502550255025502550255025

502650265026502650265026502650265026

502750275027502750275027502750275027

502850285028502850285028502850285028

502950295029502950295029502950295029 503050305030503050305030503050305030

503150315031503150315031503150315031

503250325032503250325032503250325032

503350335033503350335033503350335033

503450345034503450345034503450345034

503550355035503550355035503550355035

503650365036503650365036503650365036

503750375037503750375037503750375037

503850385038503850385038503850385038

503950395039503950395039503950395039

504050405040504050405040504050405040

504150415041504150415041504150415041

504250425042504250425042504250425042

504350435043504350435043504350435043

504450445044504450445044504450445044

504550455045504550455045504550455045

504650465046504650465046504650465046

504750475047504750475047504750475047

504850485048504850485048504850485048

504950495049504950495049504950495049

505050505050505050505050505050505050

505150515051505150515051505150515051505250525052505250525052505250525052

505350535053505350535053505350535053

505450545054505450545054505450545054505550555055505550555055505550555055

505650565056505650565056505650565056

505850585058505850585058505850585058505950595059505950595059505950595059

506050605060506050605060506050605060

506150615061506150615061506150615061

506250625062506250625062506250625062

506350635063506350635063506350635063

506450645064506450645064506450645064

506550655065506550655065506550655065

506650665066506650665066506650665066

506750675067506750675067506750675067506850685068506850685068506850685068

506950695069506950695069506950695069507050705070507050705070507050705070

507150715071507150715071507150715071

507250725072507250725072507250725072507350735073507350735073507350735073

507450745074507450745074507450745074

507550755075507550755075507550755075

507650765076507650765076507650765076

507750775077507750775077507750775077

507850785078507850785078507850785078

507950795079507950795079507950795079

508050805080508050805080508050805080

508150815081508150815081508150815081

508250825082508250825082508250825082

508350835083508350835083508350835083

508450845084508450845084508450845084

508550855085508550855085508550855085

508650865086508650865086508650865086

508750875087508750875087508750875087

508850885088508850885088508850885088

508950895089508950895089508950895089

510051005100510051005100510051005100

510151015101510151015101510151015101

510251025102510251025102510251025102

510351035103510351035103510351035103

510451045104510451045104510451045104

510551055105510551055105510551055105

510651065106510651065106510651065106

510751075107510751075107510751075107

510851085108510851085108510851085108

510951095109510951095109510951095109

511051105110511051105110511051105110

511151115111511151115111511151115111

511251125112511251125112511251125112

511351135113511351135113511351135113

511451145114511451145114511451145114

511551155115511551155115511551155115

511651165116511651165116511651165116

500050005000500050005000500050005000500150015001500150015001500150015001500250025002500250025002500250025002500350035003500350035003500350035003

500450045004500450045004500450045004 500550055005500550055005500550055005 500650065006500650065006500650065006 500750075007500750075007500750075007 500850085008500850085008500850085008 500950095009500950095009500950095009 501050105010501050105010501050105010 501150115011501150115011501150115011

501250125012501250125012501250125012501350135013501350135013501350135013501450145014501450145014501450145014501550155015501550155015501550155015501650165016501650165016501650165016501750175017501750175017501750175017501850185018501850185018501850185018501950195019501950195019501950195019

502050205020502050205020502050205020502150215021502150215021502150215021502250225022502250225022502250225022

535353535353535353535353535353535353

535053505350535053505350535053505350

535153515351535153515351535153515351

535253525352535253525352535253525352

P väetistarve

1 - 7 (väga suur) Pindala = 0,14 ha

7 - 19 (suur) Pindala = 21,5 ha

19 - 48 (keskmine) Pindala = 70,8 ha

48 - 105 (väike) Pindala = 24,5 ha

105 - ... (väga väike) Pindala = 12 ha

Auaste

Soolu

Satellites are used to determinethe geographic coordinates ofthe location that are saved inpocket PC using FarmSite software

Laboratory analyses: - pH - P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, B, Mn, S - C%

RESULTS TO S

ERVER BY E

-MAIL

Mapinfo and Vertical MapperSoftware are used to synthesizedata and prepare a fertilisationrequirement map for eachproducer

TRANSPORT OF SAMPLES TO THE LAB

MAP IS SENT TO FARMER BY E-MAIL

TO SERVER BY E-MAIL

Average soil sample(20-25 stroces; ca 300 g)is taken per each 3-5 ha

GEOGR. COORDINATES

POINTS ON MAP

SOIL MONITORING (4)

Objective of the study is to investigate the soil nutrients dynamics dependence on land use (arable, grassland), soil moisture and soil t˚.

Results will help to improve the methodology for identification of fertilization need (e.g soil sampling time)

Methodology: soil samples (pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, B, Cu, C)

Start: 2005

Soil nutrients dynamics (pilot study)

SOIL MONITORING (5)

Soil erosion (water, wind) studies

Objective of the studies is to give an estimation of areas in erosion risk

Methodology: comparing land use information with soil map data

ESTONIAN NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAMME

Started in 1994, funded nationally, coordinated by Ministry of Environment (responsible for reporting to EU)

Data collection coordinated by MoE Information and Technology Centre

More than 40 subprogrammes to collect the data about the Estonian environmental status (separate sub-programmes for groundwater, surface and coastal water).

One of the objectives is also to observe the compliance of EU and national legislation requirements.

Shortage of the programme is the lack of agricultural monitoring data!

Main challenge is to adapt existing monitoring system to be able to fullfil all EU requirements! Monetary limits! Better use of other existing systems and co-operation between MoE and MoA!

http://eelis.ic.ee:88/seireveebhttp://eelis.ic.ee:88/seireveeb

WATER MONITORING (1)

Estonian National Environmental Monitoring Programme – water monitoring stations, 2005

WATER MONITORING (2)

Gross Nutrient Balance

The objective of the indicator is to find out how efficiently nutrients have been applied on farm-level and estimate the loss of nutrients and potential risk to the environment

One of the objective of AE measure is to reduce the risk of groundwater and surface water pollution caused by nutrient leaching from soils and to prevent soils and water from chemical contamination.

Pesticide treatment load

Methodology: field-book records (calculation period 01.01-31.12), “farm gate balance”

Start: 2005, 112 farms (different production type, size)

WATER MONITORING (3)

INPUT (purchased) - feed and straw, fertilizers, seed, livestock, ammonia for straw, nitrogen fixation etc

OUTPUT (sold) – livestock, milk, eggs, crops, manure etc

Results express/able to assess the risk upon environment (not direct pollution itself)! Showing changes in trend!

19,1

26,8

2,30,2

11,7

1,4

17,9

26,3

-1,3

0,2

-6,6

-1,4

20,6

16,3

-2,6-1,6

-13,5

-5,7

-20,0

-15,0

-10,0

-5,0

0,0

5,0

10,0

15,0

20,0

25,0

30,0

Field crops Mixed Field crops Mixed Field crops Mixed

N P K

su

rplu

s,

kg

/ha

SAP

EPS

OF

Single area paymentEnvironmentally friendly management scheme (AE)

Organic farming (AE)

NUTRIENT TOTAL BALANCE IN 2005

Low values of nutrient balance are in accordance with low use of fertilizers. Low risk for water quality but high risk for soil fertility. Rising trend in fertilizer use indicates also increased balance.

N-balance is positive in case of all types of production, which is very much caused by legumes growing.

P- and K-balance is negative both in EPS and organic farms, indicating the shortage of bought-in fertilizer in EPS farms and the low usage of organic fertilizers in organic farms – with legumes growing, N-balance can be made stable but not P- and K-balance!

WATER MONITORING (4)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1986 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

acti

ve s

ub

stan

ce,

kg/h

a

N

P2O5

K2O

N, P and K quantities taken to the soil with mineral fertilizers in Estonia 1986–2005

WATER MONITORING (5)

Objective of the indicator – NO3— and NH4

+

concentration in water reflect real impact from agricultural activities to water quality

Water quality pilot study

Methodology: water/soil sampling, 5 (+2 fields in nitrate vulnerable area were added in 2007)

Start: 2005

WATER MONITORING (6)

Concentration of NO3- in drainage water in Läänemaa monitoring fields, 2005

0,0

10,0

20,0

30,0

40,0

50,0

60,0

70,0

80,0

25-Apr 9-May 26-May 6-Jun 24-Oct 8-Nov 21-Nov

NO

3-, m

g/l

EPS

OF

Concentration of nitrates in drainage was 68 mg/l maximum. Organic farms and EPS farms with clover-grass had lower results.

toitainete bilanss, KST; (nutrient balance, EPS)

Water monitoring areas of AE 2004-2006, nutrient balance + pesticide use (36 EPS farms)

Methodology: Line transects

Start: 2005 (66 farms in total)

Birds – indicative species (number of species and density)

Main objective of the indicator is to find out: Does organic farming strengthen the biological diversity?

Earthworms (abundance and species diversity) and soil microbial communities (biomass activity)

Objective of the indicator is to find out - What is the extent and direction of change in species composition and the total abundance of the earthworm communities

Methodology: Soil blocks method for earthworms and soil auger method for microbes

Start: 2004 (in total 66 farms)

BIODIVERSITY MONITORING (1)

Vascular plants – structure coverage and species richness Objective of the indicator is to find out - How has the structure, coverage and species richness changed when compared to the baseline, what (weed)species are spreading on fields and what is the natural extent of variability of the strip vegetation in traditional agricultural areas?

Methodology: Monitoring plots (1x1m2)

Start: 2005 (66 farms in total)

Bumblebees – diversity and abundance

BIODIVERSITY MONITORING (2)

Objective of the indicator is to find out - how has the general state of the environment in a farm changed in the viewpoint of habitat function due to the implementation of AE measures?

Methodology: Line transects

Start: 2006 (66 farms in total)

There are 15 bumblebee species widespread in Estonia, from which 9 can be met everywhere.

BD MONITORING AREAS ESTONIAN AE 2004-2006 (2004/2005 - 3*10 farms)(2006 – 3*22 farms)

Family farm income (profitability) – EEK/farm/y)

The objective of organic farming measure is to satisfy the growing demand for organic products through increased domestic production and support and enhance the competitiveness of organic farming.

Objective of the indicator is to find out to what extent has the programme been conductive to maintain or improve the income level of the rural community?

Share of organic products sold as organic (%)

The objective of the indicator is to find out to what extent has programme supported themarket situation of local organic products?

Methodology: Farm interviews, questionnaires

Start: 2004 (in total 100 producers)

SOCIO-ECONOMIC

Preparation of M&E activities (planning) should ideally start before implementation of programme (or at least in the first phase) – institutional structure, procedures, choosing the indicators, etc

Use of experts (establishment of expert groups) is essential to develop suitable indicator system and methodologies, co-operation between different institutions needed!

Collecting the baseline data very important! Data collectors need training and instructions! Keep an eye on quality of methodologies and selection of monitoring areas!

Estonia has shortage of good experts and scarce experience in agricultural monitoring.Therefore, the promotion of international cooperation in monitoring and evaluation of programmes is highly reccommended!

The awareness of producers of support (environmental!) objectives is relatively low – more training both for producers and advisers + information materials needed. Feedback to producer very necessary!

LESSONS LEARNT

THANK YOU!WWW.PMK.AGRI.EE/PKT