A survey has shown farmers and landowners have a strong interest
in the environment and the need to tackle climate change - but
they do have concerns over the lack of clarity on the
Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS).
The survey, carried out jointly by the Country Land &
Business Association (CLA) and Strutt & Parker ahead of the
first CLA Rural Powerhouse Week (November 23rd to
26th), offers an insight into how farmers and
landowners feel about the shift away from Basic Payments to a new
system of farm support based on the provision of ‘public goods’.
It found that 80% of respondents were concerned about losses in
biodiversity and the same percentage agreed with the idea of
paying land managers for producing public goods. More than half
reported they were already taking action to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and 64% said a sense of personal responsibility would
motivate them to make climate change a higher priority in terms
of managing their land and property.
Four out of five respondents said they were either likely or very
likely to join ELMS, or an equivalent scheme, when it becomes
fully available in 2024.
Environmental measures, which farmers said they were likely or
very likely to sign up to as part of ELMS, included supporting
pollinators by increasing pollen and nectar sources (78%),
providing seed habitats to support woodland birds over winter
(73%) and tree planting to absorb carbon (57%).
However, there were lower levels of support for options such as
growing energy crops (25%) or planting trees to slow flood waters
(35%). Respondents also signalled that they did have concerns
about how ELMS will operate.
The survey found:
- 64% expect the change from direct payments to payment for
public goods under ELMS to result in lower farm profitability
- 76% said they were concerned the payments will be
insufficient
- 57% said they were concerned administration will be poor
- 44% said they were concerned that ELMs will not deliver the
prescribed environmental benefits
CLA President Mark Bridgeman said:
“It’s very encouraging to see that mitigating climate change and
reversing biodiversity decline is at the top of many farming
businesses’ priority list. Also, that farmers and landowners are
keen to take part in the Government’s new ELMS scheme.
“The public can see the impact of biodiversity loss and climate
change and understandably they expect us to act. As stewards of
the countryside, we are uniquely placed to deliver meaningful
programmes that will drive environmental recovery, and we are
determined to play our part in meeting the challenges ahead.
“These results do show, however, some trends that will concern
government, whose optimism for the move towards ‘public money for
public goods’ is clearly not shared by all farmers. The CLA
believes ELMS has the potential to be a world-leading land
management policy, but there are clear risks associated with
transitioning from the old system to the new. Ministers should
consider these findings carefully.”
James Farrell, Head of Rural at Strutt & Parker,
said:
“The government is committed to meeting a net zero greenhouse gas
emissions target by 2050 and its ability to reduce emissions from
land use will be reliant on the actions of land managers. This is
why it is so important to understand how farmers and landowners
are feeling about changes in policy and what motivates them.
“It is really positive that farmers and landowners are
increasingly focused on making a positive environmental impact,
seeing it as a key part of their stewardship of a farm or estate.
“However, the survey also indicates that there is a lack of
confidence within the sector about the implementation of ELMS and
highlights there are some actions, particularly those which
require permanent land use changes, where landowners may be less
willing to get involved. We hope that Defra can address this as
they refine their plans for ELMS over the coming months.”
