Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Paragraph: 60
Upland livestock farmers have often been among the most dependent on direct payments, but there...
Conclusion
Upland livestock farmers have often been among the most dependent on direct payments, but there is also evidence that existing agri-environment schemes have reduced income stability for upland livestock farmers in less favoured areas. Those farming the uplands, and tenanted and common land, will face particular challenges during the agricultural transition, and Defra must not squander the considerable potential of this land to deliver public goods. Defra should explain in its response to this Report how the needs of those farming uplands, commons and tenanted land, who risk being disadvantaged during the transition, will be reflected in its ELM schemes. It should also explain how it will ensure the environmental and societal benefits of upland and common land pasture are recognised in ELM.
Paragraph Reference:
60
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Each of the new environmental land management schemes will be accessible to farmers in the uplands, commons and on tenanted land. We are actively engaged with representatives across each of these sectors to make sure that scheme design works in each of these circumstances. We have designed new flexibilities into the Sustainable Farming Incentive, in close consultation with farming organisations including the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and National Farmers’ Union (NFU), to ensure the scheme is accessible to tenant farmers. For the early rollout of the scheme in 2022, scheme agreements will be 3 years (compared with a minimum of 5 years in Countryside Stewardship) and there will be annual flexibility to add standards, land and levels of ambition into agreements. In the first year, tenants with only 2 years left on their tenancy will be able to enter into the scheme. Tenant farmers will be able to enter into the scheme without proving they have landlord permission (although they will be