Post by Hoppy on Apr 27, 2007 14:31:16 GMT -1
Environment Agency Wales are again urging farmers to take care when dipping their sheep as a Powys farmer ends up paying over £5700 in fines and costs in a prosecution case at Welshpool Magistrates Court on 20 April 2007.
Arwyn Lloyd , of Gwern Y Ffridd farm, Pennant, Llanbrynmair, Powys, had pleaded guilty to polluting the Afon Creignant, a major tributary of the Afon Twymyn with the sheep-dip chemical, cypermethrin.
Mr was fined £500 and ordered to pay £500 to cover the costs of the prosecution. He had already paid £4728.77 to cover the costs of the initial investigation.
The Court heard that in May last year, a routine biological survey of the Afon Twymyn found that there were large numbers of dead and dying invertebrates, such as insects, freshwater shrimps, snails and worms. These small animals are a major part of the food chain as they support both fish and birds.
Samples of water, moss and sediment taken from the tributary revealed contamination by the pesticide chemical cypermethrin at the highest level ever found in the area.
The source of the pollution was traced to two streams close to Gwern Y Ffridd Farm. It was established that cypermethrin was present in the drain connecting the sheep-dip to the old soakaway. The chemical would then have percolated into both streams from the soakaway.
Investigations found that the Afon Twymyn had been contaminated for over 8 kilometres.
Speaking after the case, Vanessa Lang from Environment Agency Wales said:
"This case shows how important it is for farmers to take great care when they are dipping their sheep or disposing of used dip. This chemical is very dangerous to the bugs and grubs living in our rivers and the knock on effect this has on the rest of the local wildlife can be huge.
"But there are steps farmers can take to avoid this kind of incident. It is essential that farmers follow the straight-forward conditions in their Groundwater Authorisation and spread used dip thinly onto their land. Under no circumstances should the dip be disposed of in a soakaway.
"We can provide support and guidance on how you can dip your sheep safely and reduce the chance of harming the environment. You can also get information from the NFU website with their 'Stop Every Drop' campaign.
"Please get in touch with your local Agency office and our staff can help you avoid this kind of incident happening on your farm."
Arwyn Lloyd , of Gwern Y Ffridd farm, Pennant, Llanbrynmair, Powys, had pleaded guilty to polluting the Afon Creignant, a major tributary of the Afon Twymyn with the sheep-dip chemical, cypermethrin.
Mr was fined £500 and ordered to pay £500 to cover the costs of the prosecution. He had already paid £4728.77 to cover the costs of the initial investigation.
The Court heard that in May last year, a routine biological survey of the Afon Twymyn found that there were large numbers of dead and dying invertebrates, such as insects, freshwater shrimps, snails and worms. These small animals are a major part of the food chain as they support both fish and birds.
Samples of water, moss and sediment taken from the tributary revealed contamination by the pesticide chemical cypermethrin at the highest level ever found in the area.
The source of the pollution was traced to two streams close to Gwern Y Ffridd Farm. It was established that cypermethrin was present in the drain connecting the sheep-dip to the old soakaway. The chemical would then have percolated into both streams from the soakaway.
Investigations found that the Afon Twymyn had been contaminated for over 8 kilometres.
Speaking after the case, Vanessa Lang from Environment Agency Wales said:
"This case shows how important it is for farmers to take great care when they are dipping their sheep or disposing of used dip. This chemical is very dangerous to the bugs and grubs living in our rivers and the knock on effect this has on the rest of the local wildlife can be huge.
"But there are steps farmers can take to avoid this kind of incident. It is essential that farmers follow the straight-forward conditions in their Groundwater Authorisation and spread used dip thinly onto their land. Under no circumstances should the dip be disposed of in a soakaway.
"We can provide support and guidance on how you can dip your sheep safely and reduce the chance of harming the environment. You can also get information from the NFU website with their 'Stop Every Drop' campaign.
"Please get in touch with your local Agency office and our staff can help you avoid this kind of incident happening on your farm."