The CLA welcomes the comments made by the Environment Secretary
to boost productivity for farmers while protecting the
environment.
said at the Oxford
Farming Conference that throughout 2020 there will be radical
changes to agriculture policy, which includes introducing the
Agriculture Bill to Parliament this month.
She said “we want our new scheme to deliver value for money as
well as boosting sustainable productivity to support farmers in
their work of feeding the nation” and “our proposals for
Environmental Land Management will be one of the most important
environmental reforms for 40 years”.
CLA President Mark Bridgeman said: “Nobody should underestimate
the challenge of leaving the Common Agricultural Policy – but the
transition to ELMs provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to
move to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly system of
public goods.
“It is essential this transition is not rushed as it’s for the
long term, with farmers and land managers being supported through
this radical change. The Secretary of State and the department
must allow proper time for members of the rural community to
adjust and adapt, which might mean delaying the start of this
transition.”
Mr Bridgeman also welcomed the Secretary of State’s focus on
rural productivity.
He added: “The rural economy has immense potential for economic
growth and job creation, but we need the right policies to
unleash it. It is at least 16 percent less productive than the
national average, but closing that productivity gap could add
£43bn to the national economy.
“But we need recognition that boosting rural productivity is more
than farming alone. It will be a cross government effort touching
policy areas in many major departments – digital and energy
connectivity, planning reform and tax simplification are just as
important to many rural businesses as policy initiatives led by
DEFRA.”
“The Secretary of State should lead this cross government working
with one sole focus – to unleash the potential of all rural
businesses.”
