²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Farmer fined after covering road with potatoes, mud and silt

An estimated 50 to 100 tonnes of soil from the field had run off the field down onto the A358 and then into the watercourse

Chris Brayford
clock • 3 min read
David Womack, senior environment officer at the Environment Agency, said: "David Mitchell had control and custody of the land he rented up until the point of harvest and was therefore responsible for the land management practices. He chose to grow a high-risk crop on a sloping field with light soils."
Image:

David Womack, senior environment officer at the Environment Agency, said: "David Mitchell had control and custody of the land he rented up until the point of harvest and was therefore responsible for the land management practices. He chose to grow a high-risk crop on a sloping field with light soils."

A farmer has been order to pay more than £40,000 after causing silt, soil and potatoes to escape from an unharvested field and pollute a tributary of the River Tone in Somerset. Potato farmer David...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

New to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358

 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

£±Ê°¿´¡

BNG National Habitat Bank Creation & Unit

£±Ê°¿´¡

WATER ABSTRACTION LICENCES FOR SALE

£±Ê°¿´¡

More on Rural crime

Man dies after an incident on farm in Wellington

Man dies after an incident on farm in Wellington

Avon and Somerset Police were made aware of the incident in Greenham at about 2.40pm on Wednesday September 17

clock 23 September 2025 • 1 min read
Worker killed on Pembrokeshire farm

Worker killed on Pembrokeshire farm

Dyfed-Powys Police is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man on Friday September 12

clock 19 September 2025 • 1 min read
Organised crime gang jailed following multi-million pound rural crime spree

Organised crime gang jailed following multi-million pound rural crime spree

Joint police effort sees seven men sentenced for more than 25 years after multiple farm machinery thefts

clock 16 September 2025 • 2 min read