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This research discovered that the time of application of animal manure to the land, for disposal and as a fertilizer nutrient source, has an important influence on the risk of water pollution. Leaching of nitrate from the manure into the soil and thence into groundwater and surface water courses (and ultimately into drinking water) was found to be greater from autumn compared with spring applications. These findings were used by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) when writing the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) Regulations. Implementation of these regulations has led to reductions in the nitrate concentration of water in the UK.
This research (total cost £320,738) discovered which agronomic practices influence fusarium mycotoxins contaminating wheat grain, and led directly to a Food Standards Agency (FSA) Code of Practice aimed at reducing the mycotoxin concentrations in wheat grain for food processing. The impact has been to improve management practices leading to less waste. The implementation of the code led to fewer loads of wheat, sent by farmers for flour milling being rejected due to mycotoxin contamination above the EU permitted limits, and less food grade wheat grain wasted. These benefits have been independently estimated as worth £26 million in 2010.
This research initially discovered that, in response to reduced farm incomes from reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in the 1990's, a significant number of farm diversifications were being established by women, but these women were coming up against a number of barriers. A direct consequence of this research was the establishment of WiRE to promote, support and develop rural business women. A survey in 2010 of 334 of the 1,300 subscribing WiRE business members indicated that they generated in direct income nearly £35.3 million annually. Also during 2010 WiRE trained 117 business start-ups with a cumulative projected turnover, within two years, of £1m.