That's the key finding of the 14th Scottish Agricultural Pollution Review published today by the Scottish Agricultural Pollution Group. As well as providing an overview of the year 2000's agricultural pollution statistics, the Review highlights the important and varied roles played by the Group in raising awareness of farming activities and their impact on the quality of Scotland's environment.

"The latest figures are disappointing. Last year saw a total of 379 substantiated farm-related pollution events, an increase of 30% on the total for 1999", said group Chairman, Allan Virtue. "The collection and storage of silage effluent and slurry continued to pose significant environmental risks in certain parts of the country, and together accounted for over 220 pollution incidents.

"The incidence of sheep dip pollution also showed a big increase, with tens of kilometres of pristine watercourse being wiped out. The ban on Organophosphate dips last year resulted in many farmers switching to Synthetic Pyrethroid dips. The exceptionally high toxicity of these dips is such that farmers and contractors must take extreme care before, during and after dipping.

"However, there is still much to be positive about. The Scottish Agricultural Pollution Group believes that the greatest strength of the Scottish agricultural industry is the high quality of its products and the link these have to a high quality environment. Accordingly, the Review stresses that the Group will continue to work with others towards achieving the protection and improvement of Scotland's environment."

The following specialist articles are contained in this year's Review:

• Good practice with agricultural fuel oil and waste oil
  
  
• The nutrient value of manures and slurries
  
  
• Agricultural pollution prevention work in Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA) South West Area (including SEPA's role during the foot and mouth disease outbreak)
  
  
• The benefits of agricultural waste minimisation
  

ENDS

Allan Virtue, Chairman of the Scottish Agricultural Pollution Group and SEPA Borders Team Leader is available for interview. Please contact Louise Fyfe, SEPA PR Officer, on 0131 449 7296.

Copies of the 14th Scottish Agricultural Pollution Review can be obtained free of charge from all the offices of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Scottish Agricultural College and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department; downloaded from the SEPA website: www.sepa.org.uk; or by telephoning 01786 457700.

The Scottish Agricultural Pollution Group comprises representatives from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD).

Scottish Agricultural Pollution Group seeks to encourage good farming practice as a means of minimising pollution of soil, air and water and acts as a forum for the exchange of a range of information related to agricultural pollution. The Group also makes recommendations to the Scottish Executive on draft legislation, promotes initiatives for investigative work and produces the PEPFAA Code on behalf of SEERAD.