An interdisciplinary team of researchers from ADAS and the University of Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy Research recently held a workshop to explore farmer reactions to FARMSCOPER; a decision support tool developed by ADAS to assist in the assessment and mitigation of risks of diffuse pollution from agriculture.
The event was held as part of the knowledge exchange activities being undertaken in conjunction with ADAS led science in the Hampshire Avon Demonstration Test Catchment.
Tools such as FARMSCOPER are an important part of the wider landscape of farmer decision making that ADAS are trying to inform through its work in the Hampshire Avon DTC. The workshop event involved farmers and scientists assessing FARMSCOPER in terms of the usability of the interface, the veracity of its results and the viability of its suggestions for mitigation; both cost and practicability. The event had a useful mix of arable and dairy farmers in attendance and included a mix of presentation, discussion and practical interaction with the software tool.
The event generated many reactions to Farm Scoper: from issues of practical and theoretical design to the political and policy purpose of decision support tools. Commenting on the event, Dr Richard Gooday of ADAS explained “All participants understood well the policy and regulatory context and were supportive of the tool. They offered some very constructive suggestions about how it could be enhanced to meet farmer needs further”. A key concern was linking assessments of mitigation to wider issues of farm profitability. As Dr Robert Fish of the University of Exeter added, “Farmers clearly see the potential of these decision support tools but the information they provide always has to be tied back to the economics of farm enterprise behaviour”.
For more information on FARMSCOPER, please contact Dr Richard Gooday on 01902 693498 or email richard.gooday@adas.co.uk. For more information on the Avon Demonstration Test Catchment (DTC) programme please contact Professor Adrian Collins on 01902 693404 or email adrian.collins@adas.co.uk.