Support for farmers will be simplified under plans announced by
Environment Secretary today, with the country’s
decision to leave the EU providing a once in a lifetime
opportunity to refocus how we support farmers and landowners.
Speaking at the Country Land and Business Association’s (CLA)
annual Rural Business Conference, the Secretary of State set out
how Defra will make practical and pragmatic changes to existing
farm support systems, streamlining the process to free up farmers
to focus on what they do best.
Speaking after the conference, Environment Secretary said:
“Today I have set out plans to improve our current schemes,
starting with simplifying support for farmers to protect and
enhance our landscapes and countryside.
“But these measures are just the beginning - the first steps
towards a simplified system of support. Over the coming weeks and
months, we’ll be working closely with our farmers to make sure we
listen to what they want as we design a new approach and realise
our vision for the future of UK food and farming outside the EU.”
Acknowledging the daily challenge farmers face within the EU’s
burdensome Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Secretary of
State said the current system of farm support is inefficient,
ineffective, inequitable, and environmentally harmful. He
outlined the need to change the way we invest in our countryside
so farmers can more readily access support to protect wildlife,
enhance the environment and improve land use.
As a first step, the Environment Secretary announced
simplifications to the Countryside Stewardship scheme through the
creation of four new streamlined offers which will launch in
January next year. These new offers will have a much simpler
application process – half as much paperwork as before - so it
will be easier for farmers and land managers to apply and deliver
environmental benefits on their land. Further details on this
will be shared later this week.
CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said:
"Farmers and landowners want to continue providing the country
with high quality, affordable food while protecting the
environment and supporting wildlife. We welcome the Secretary of
State's commitment to streamlining and focusing support into the
areas most needed, and we look forward to working with him to
drive up participation in crucial schemes to protect and enhance
landscapes and the environment."
Jenna Hegarty, Head of Land Use Policy at RSPB said:
“We welcome the Secretary of State’s ambition to make Countryside
Stewardship more effective, which will allow more farmers to help
wildlife on their land. This is a crucial step towards realising
his aim to refocus agriculture policy to provide clear benefits
for people, nature and the future of farming.”
The Secretary of State also spoke about the opportunities for UK
farmers and food producers to take advantage of changing consumer
tastes and reap the rewards of quality and provenance in
production. He celebrated measures set out in the government’s
Industrial Strategy to work towards a food and drink sector deal
and announced further support including a further £45 million top
up to the RDPE Growth Programme to help rural business
development, food processing and rural infrastructure
projects.
The government will look to publish an Agriculture Bill in 2018
and will consult with all those who have an interest in the
success of the UK food and farming industry in the New
Year.
We have already pledged to match the support farmers currently
receive from the CAP until the end of this parliament and set out
the intention to go on supporting farmers where the environmental
benefits of that spending are clear.
