Farmers throughout England say they really feel “deserted” as hundreds of long-standing environmental land administration contracts are as a consequence of expire on the finish of the 12 months, with no clear alternative in place.
In response to a Freedom of Data request by the Nationwide Farmers’ Union (NFU), 5,830 Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreements will end in December. The schemes present monetary incentives for nature-friendly measures reminiscent of insecticide-free farming, wildflower strips and hedgerow upkeep.
For farmers like David Barton, who runs an arable and livestock farm in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, the announcement has come with out warning or steerage.
“This got here out of the blue and with no clear route,” he stated. “It’s completely woeful of any authorities to not have that route. I really feel fully deserted.”
The contracts are being phased out as a part of the federal government’s shift in direction of post-Brexit environmental land administration schemes, together with the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). However earlier this 12 months ministers angered farmers by closing purposes to SFI after the annual funding allocation was used up, leaving many in limbo.
Barton stated his farm had already dedicated to costly long-term environmental initiatives that require cautious planning. With out assist, he warned, these might shortly unravel, inflicting “vital” environmental harm.
Mark Meadows, an arable farmer in Warwickshire, faces an analogous cliff edge.
“We’ve been hit with the double whammy this 12 months — poor yields and falling costs,” he stated. “To high all of it off, we don’t know what’s going to occur with our environmental land.”
The NFU is urgent the federal government to increase current Countryside Stewardship agreements for an additional 12 months whereas a long-term technique is developed.
David Exwood, NFU deputy president, stated he had written to farming minister Daniel Zeichner to induce motion.
“Defra should present a transparent plan for his or her future, and urgently,” he stated.
A spokesperson for the Division for Surroundings, Meals and Rural Affairs (Defra) insisted the federal government was persevering with to spend money on nature-friendly farming.
“We’re conscious there are some agreements ending within the months forward and are contemplating how greatest to ship for the surroundings, the general public and farmers,” they stated.
However with greater than 5,800 agreements expiring on 31 December, farmers say the uncertainty dangers not solely their monetary stability but additionally the progress made on biodiversity and soil well being since Countryside Stewardship started.
