A Taunton potato farmer has been prosecuted by the Environment Agency for causing silt, soil and potatoes to escape from a field and seriously pollute a tributary of the River Tone in Somerset.

Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) is recommending the Scottish Government bring forward legislative proposals to protect Scotland’s soils.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has gone out to tender with a contract for soil sampling and analysis at 170 farms across the UK for an Environmental Baselining Pilot (including analysis to inform the risk of runoff) worth an estimated £2 million.

A trial at a Cheshire farm led by United Utilities and Compass Agronomy has shown how growing cover crops and carrying out soil analysis can reduce artificial fertiliser use to protect raw water sources.

More than 40 farmers in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire are taking part in a landmark project that could help return atmospheric CO2 to pre-industrial levels, reduce flooding and improve soil health.

Over 250 farms in Yorkshire, covering nearly 10 per cent of the region’s arable land, have benefited from innovative farming programmes led by Yorkshire Water and food supply chain consultants, Future Food Solutions, resulting in the improvement of soil health on arable farms.

The Environment Agency and Herefordshire Council are using satellite technology to target sites where soil water run-off is causing big problems for the environment and the county’s roads.