Good Livestock Farming Practices to Enhance Water Quality

The Duncannon Blue Flag Farming and Communities Scheme reduced bacterial pollution in Wicksford, Ireland, by implementing targeted interventions across 975 hectares. Farmers adopted fencing, riparian buffer zones, cover cropping, and sediment traps, reducing nutrient runoff and soil erosion. The project used pollution potential mapping and soil testing to guide actions, with results-based incentives linking environmental outcomes to farm profitability. These practices improved water quality, enhanced ecological health, and increased farm productivity, demonstrating cost-effective solutions for sustainable agriculture.