1. Zanda Melnalksne Union Farmers Parliament October, 2016
Second WFD-cycle is started – comparison of agricultural measures Proposed agricultural N and P measures in Latvia
Zanda Melnalksne
Union Farmers Parliament
October, 2016

2. Farmers Parliament - the voice of Latvian farming
NGO, where 900 producing farmers are members, founded 1999
Main tasks:
Lobying of farmers interests in Latvia and EU
Education and information of farmers
Active in projects from 2002

3. WFD in Latvia Water protection and management Policy planning document
Developed in every 6 years ( , , ...).
Four river basin territories
Rivers, lakes, ground and costal water status description
Identify problems
Recommendations for water quality improvements
Approved by the Minister of Environment
so the plan has a recommendatory nature

4. Lithuania Belarus NVZ Lielupe – flat area
Daugava – 3 hydropower stations – big wetlands, with water aeration.
Trans boundary water from Lituania and Belarus.
Lithuania
Belarus

5. Lielupe river basin Area in Latvia 8800 km² Agricultural land 50 %
57 % from agricultural land is arable

6. Characteristics of Latvia NVZ
Lielupe – second biggest Latvia river
High transboundary influence (Lithuania)
Fertile soils, mild climate, flat relief
> 50% agriculture land, from which 65% arable land; > 40% forests
~ 50% of Latvia grain and
raps is produced
in Zemgale

7. Main problems identified for agricultural activities
Increased nutrient concentration in the water runoff from agriculture lands
Major part of agricultural water runoff is between vegetation periods/in winter
27% N leakage is in vegetation period (summer), 73 % - in late autumn, winter and spring.
43% of annual N leakage is during winter (December February)
Main reason – intensive precipitations

8. Recommended measures (1)
- 2m buffer zone - in arable fields next to water courses and drainage systems.
grassland, has to be mowed at least once a year during period from 10 July to 10 September. Eco focus territory
271 EUR/ha

9. Recommended measures (2)
- Green coverage in winter period – grasslands, stubble field, winter crops.
Stubble fields in winter period – 80 EUR/ha agri-environmental payments from RDP
70914 Ha, 2015, (totally 1,62 milj.ha declared for payments)
70% of NVZ should be covered in winter period by crop compliance
There forms perennial grassland, which has to be mowed at least once a year during period from 10 July to 10 September. Risk of yield loss due to late spring works (manure spreading, ploughing, etc). Higher risk of plant deseases. No suitable for animal farms, since manure spreading is not allowed.

10. Recommended measures (3)
Amelioration system with environmentally friendly elements
Supported by RDP investment measures
Up till 80% investment support
Sedimentation ponds
Two step ditches
Stone constructions/dams
River meandering
Controlled drainage
Artificial wetlands
343 amelioration system reconstruction projects have been approved, no information about no of projects with environemntal elements
High risk water bodies. Additinal service will be needed for env.elements. No idea at this moment how often, which costs, how to implement….Many questions.

11. Farmers Parliament activities for testing and promotion of measures
Demonstration of environmental drainage elements at the Aile stream within Nutrinflow project:
Evaluation of 5 potential places, technical evaluation
Local action/discussion group initiation (melioration department of MoA, farmers, municipalities)
Construction planning
Water quality measurements, economical evaluation
Recommendations for policy development and implementation regulations
Bebri

12. Dams before and after beavers settling