Sunday 27 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
29/09/2005
Research probes role of upland farmers in sustaining rural communities
Farmers throughout the upland areas of Yorkshire, the North East and Northumberland are being asked to help the NFU paint an accurate picture of the role they play in supporting thriving rural communities.
In particular, the Union is seeking information on the extent to which farmers provide rural employment opportunities, support other rural businesses and provide community services such as snow clearance.
This information, says Senior Food and Farming Adviser James Ede, is vital to inform the debate currently underway on how to secure a long-term future for hill farmers across the UK.
“Recent reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy are presenting a real challenge to upland farmers who are already disadvantaged by their remote location, harsh climate and limited business opportunities,” he said.
“As a result the NFU is campaigning on their behalf to increase awareness of the vital role they play at the heart of the rural community.
“It’s widely recognised that their contribution is essential to maintain the landscape that’s so important to our tourist industry and of course they are an integral part of the UK’s livestock industry.
“But their role in supporting the rural community is less well defined and that’s why we have undertaken this research with an initial 100 farmers across the region.”
Anecdotal information is frequently used to demonstrate how farmers support a network of rural businesses that have developed to service the agricultural industry - everything from vets to machinery dealers.
It is also obvious that farming families form part of the rural workforce and despite a long term reduction in the number of farm workers, farms still provide some job opportunities.
The aim of the survey is to collect hard and fast data in this area and it is also possible the research will be repeated in other NFU regions to provide an invaluable database of information.
“The NFU’s national upland farming working group is focussed on achieving a future for our hill farmers,” added James Ede.
“We are working with numerous organisations across the region on this - from National Park Authorities to environmental groups - and everyone agrees that good, reliable and robust data is vital.
“For this reason we hope that as many farmers as possible take part in our survey.”
Anyone who has not received a copy of the questionnaire and who would like to take part should contact the NFU North East regional office on 01904 451550.
In particular, the Union is seeking information on the extent to which farmers provide rural employment opportunities, support other rural businesses and provide community services such as snow clearance.
This information, says Senior Food and Farming Adviser James Ede, is vital to inform the debate currently underway on how to secure a long-term future for hill farmers across the UK.
“Recent reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy are presenting a real challenge to upland farmers who are already disadvantaged by their remote location, harsh climate and limited business opportunities,” he said.
“As a result the NFU is campaigning on their behalf to increase awareness of the vital role they play at the heart of the rural community.
“It’s widely recognised that their contribution is essential to maintain the landscape that’s so important to our tourist industry and of course they are an integral part of the UK’s livestock industry.
“But their role in supporting the rural community is less well defined and that’s why we have undertaken this research with an initial 100 farmers across the region.”
Anecdotal information is frequently used to demonstrate how farmers support a network of rural businesses that have developed to service the agricultural industry - everything from vets to machinery dealers.
It is also obvious that farming families form part of the rural workforce and despite a long term reduction in the number of farm workers, farms still provide some job opportunities.
The aim of the survey is to collect hard and fast data in this area and it is also possible the research will be repeated in other NFU regions to provide an invaluable database of information.
“The NFU’s national upland farming working group is focussed on achieving a future for our hill farmers,” added James Ede.
“We are working with numerous organisations across the region on this - from National Park Authorities to environmental groups - and everyone agrees that good, reliable and robust data is vital.
“For this reason we hope that as many farmers as possible take part in our survey.”
Anyone who has not received a copy of the questionnaire and who would like to take part should contact the NFU North East regional office on 01904 451550.
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
John Deere - 4755 TRACTOR - NORWICH(GBP 14000)
FORD 655C - Tiverton(GBP 5950)
Valtra N111 - Castle Douglas(GBP 29400)
John Deere 6520SE - Stanley Chippenham(GBP 28500)
Same Dorado 86,4wd - Telford(GBP 13950)
Related News
Rural communities at heart of agriculture research - 11 Nov 2007Friday, 9 November 2007, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), CRGA 37, Apia, Samoa – Putting rural communities in the driver's seat of a...
Research shows that rural communities benefit from Government Environmental Stewardship (ES) Scheme - 19 May 2010A report commissioned by Defra and Natural England has shown that farmers who make the commitment to land management schemes aimed at protecting biodi...
DEFRA publishes study of England's rural communities alongside review of the rural white paper - 15 Jan 2004Rural Affairs minister Alun Michael today published the first results from new research which shows in detail the changing nature of England's rural e...
“Sustaining Hampshire’s Rural Economy”Conference - 05 Jan 2005On 10 March 2005, Hampshire Economic Partnership (HEP) is hosting a conference with a theme of “Sustaining Hampshire’s Rural Economy”, at The Ark Conf...
Government support is needed to maintain the communities of rural Wales warns organic farmers - 14 Aug 2009The leading representative group of organic livestock farmers in Wales has responded to the Minister for Rural Affairs comments on the Welsh Assembly ...
Extreme weather conditions cause havoc for farmers and rural communities - 06 Jan 2010NFU Cymru has received phone calls from many concerned farmers across Wales following the recent snow and ice. The Union has received reports of live...
£7.5 million collaborations lead UK research community's response to H1N1 pandemic - 12 Nov 2009Leading UK research funders today announce £7.5 million of funding for a series of projects aimed at understanding the development and spread of pande...
Rural Action Yorkshire Trustee takes National Role - 17 Feb 2011Rural Action Yorkshire is delighted that one of its Trustees has been appointed as Vice Chair of ACRE, the body which operates at national, regional a...
Rural communities improving despite government ignorance - 23 Jul 2003A leading Yorkshire MEP has expressed his delight at the region's thriving agricultural life following a visit to Driffield Show this week – but c...
Affordable homes for rural communities - 08 Dec 2004Rural communities will benefit from more affordable homes to meet their needs, Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rura...
