The average upland farm business in England has lost 37% of its support payments under the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra’s) current funding arrangements, according to new research published today (Monday, November 27).
The research carried out by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) highlights that average upland farms could face a funding blackhole under the transition from EU subsidies to the UK government’s post-Brexit Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes.
According to the NFU, based on its modelling, the ELM scheme options “don’t properly recognise the work” that upland farm businesses do in rural communities.
This, according to the farmers’ organisation, includes sustaining the UK’s “most cherished” national parks in and “producing climate friendly food”.
Upland farms
The NFU’s modelling, which was based on data from six studies of upland farms, outlined that on average businesses lost 37% of their support payments under the current SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) and CS (Countryside Stewardship) options.
Thomas Binns, NFU uplands forum chair said: “Like all upland farmers, I love the hills I work in and I want to ensure that I can continue to produce food for the nation while leaving the countryside in a better state for the next generation.
“But as the modelling shows, the current ELMs offers falls short of providing a viable future for upland businesses.”
According to Binns, despite “years” of consultation with Defra” there remains a significant gap in the income of upland farmers.
He added: “This is after we were told repeatedly that we would be recognised for the work we do and that our business – so vital to the makeup of the countryside – wouldn’t be worse off in the transition from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).”
The NFU uplands forum chair also said that the organisation had been encouraging Defra to carry out its own modelling work to “understand” the impact of the loss of direct payments on upland incomes but this had not materialised todate.
“Our modelling now shows the precarious position of these most treasured landscapes.
“What we need to see are options that reward the public goods we deliver and I look forward to continuing to discuss this modelling with Defra,” Binn said.
The NFU believes that “revised” SFI options that “deliver meaningful income” are now urgently needed.
David Exwood, the NFU’s vice president said: “We want to see upland farm businesses thriving, but that is almost impossible if they are not being supported fairly for the work they do.
“We must remember that upland farms create and manage the landscapes found in much of the country’s most treasured areas, such as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which deliver £1.7 billion to local economies through tourism.
“They are also part of the fabric of rural communities, saving homes from flooding, looking after miles of stone walls and hedges and producing nutritious and sustainable beef and lamb.”
Exwood said that the NFU’s latest modelling project outlines the need for Defra to now “urgently deliver support options that work” for upland farms across the country.
