Welcome for Hill Farm Allowance replacement

Jul 24 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

FARMING leaders have welcomed Defra’s plan for the replacement of the Hill Farm Allowance Scheme announced this week.

On Monday Defra said that from 2010 specific support to upland areas will be integrated into Environmental Stewardship schemes, to reward hill farmers for the environmental and landscape benefits they deliver.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) have both said the move will be positive for farmers.

The NFU’s hill farming spokesman Will Cockbain said: “We are pleased the Secretary of State has acknowledged the huge contribution farming makes to the maintenance of our unique uplands landscape.

“The fact the future UELS seeks to reward active farmers and land managers and also recognises the importance of grazing animals and the moorlands is vital and is something we have lobbied very hard for.

“This scheme highlights the vast amount of public goods delivered by hill farmers and justifies the payment in a way which can easily be audited. It will also have a minimum stocking rate to help avert under-grazing on some of our most important farming uplands.” However, the NFU said it has some concerns about the new scheme and will work with Defra to ensure it is up and running in time for farmers to move from the current Hill Farm Allowance to the new UELS when it is introduced in 2010. CLA North East director Angus Collingwood-Cameron said: “The uplands form an essential element of the North East, and it is vital for everyone that farm businesses can continue to function.

“Those who work on the land in these areas are often the economic lifeblood of rural communities, supporting other businesses and employment in these remote areas. They also are vital for the management of the landscape for the benefit of residents and visitors alike, as well as managing internationally important upland wildlife habitats. If farmers were no longer able to farm in the uplands, the entire character of much of our region would change dramatically.

“While UELS will potentially provide a lifeline to many, it is vital that farmers are adequately rewarded for the higher costs associated with delivering the environmental goods and services in our upland areas so that they can help meet England’s food and environmental security challenge over the long term.” The CLA said it would continue to work with Defra and Natural England to ensure that the new scheme will fit in with upland farm systems.