Hill farming recognised in new uplands report
The Government’s uplands policy review is a welcome endorsement of the importance of hill farming to the national livestock industry, says the NFU.
Defra Secretary of State Caroline Spelman today announced a £26million package of measures aimed at supporting England’s hill farmers. Critically, the report also recognises that hill farmers are central to the vitality and identity of English uplands.
NFU uplands spokesman Will Cockbain said: "The NFU is pleased that the Government is now using the term hill farmers again and that it recognises hill farming is an important contributor to the national livestock industry and not just a niche sector.
"It is positive that there will be a specific uplands strand to RDPE and that they wish to ensure that Natural England works actively with hill farmers for better partnership. The NFU uplands group has long been pushing for a better balance between productive farming and environmental management to ensure optimal land use and effective delivery of both.
"We welcome the fact the Government is prepared to make available enough resource for up to 100 per cent participation in uplands Entry Level Stewardships including an early review to identify barriers to uptake, particularly on commons or problems faced by tenant farmers. Likewise, the report recognises that smaller numbers of sheep threaten the hefting system so vital to proper management of large tracts of unfenced land.
"We agree that new markets for clean water and carbon storage and other ecosystem services and public benefits can have a positive financial impact in the uplands. However, we remain concerned that tenant farmers, who are in the majority in the uplands, are also able to access these potential new markets effectively. It is disappointing, though, that the report fails to address the tensions that remain between tenants and landlords, something that the NFU will be pressing the Secretary of State to intervene in.
"The NFU sincerely hopes that today’s announcement represents the start of a proper partnership which focuses on discussion before decision with all sides taking part in proper negotiations."
