THE Tenant Farmers' Association has told the government that its implementation of the EU water framework directive could cripple British agriculture.

There are no specific proposals in the consultation document from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions but it states that meeting the directive's targets could cost £70 an acre each year for arable land and nearly £50 an acre for grassland.

Mr George Dunn, TFA chief executive, said: "If the levels are accurate, they would threaten the earning capacity of large tracts of agricultural land up and down the country.

"Depending on what the government proposes to introduce, it is clear that there will have to be significant public support if the agricultural sector is to comply with any restrictions imposed. Without such central government support the future for farms in river basins looks bleak.

"The government must proceed cautiously on implementing this directive," said Mr Dunn. "Close consultation with the industry must occur at an early stage on any proposals and the impact of those proposals needs to be carefully considered."