Push for rise in moorland payments 'back by Defra analysis'

The CLA has said it was right to push for more money to be moved to moorland areas, after a Defra analysis confirmed its benefits.

The organisation maintained that increased payments for moorland areas would make a 'significant difference' to those farming in the harshest areas of the country.

CLA President Henry Robinson said: “The analysis from Defra shows that farm business incomes will increase significantly if there is an uplift in payments in moorland areas, keeping up with earnings growth in the wider economy.

“This will not just improve the fortunes of farmers in moorland areas, the uplift will also improve farm business incomes across greater numbers of upland farms.

“The impact of taking three euros per hectare from lowland farmers provides an additional 33 euros per hectare for farmers in moorland areas. Just this small reduction on lowland farms will make a huge difference to the viability of farms in the most challenging landscapes.


“Farms in moorland areas have significant environmental, economic and social value and this analysis underlines the need for support to be given to them.”