New approach will lighten the load for farmers

England's farmers will be able to save themselves time, money and labour by plugging into a new web-based system which will ultimately transform their partnership with Government, farming minister Lord Bach announced today.

The Whole Farm Approach could save the farming industry up to £28million a year, depending on uptake, by cutting red tape and delivering a quicker, simpler and more efficient way of doing business.

This programme is one of a number of initiatives being taken forward by Defra including those on farm regulation, and the Animal Health and Welfare strategy, all of which are aiming to support the farming industry by making regulations easier to understand. It also fits in with the wider government initiatives to reduce regulatory burdens on industry as a whole.

The first stage of the system, including a web portal and detailed farm appraisal in the form of a self-assessment package, was unveiled today.

Farmers and growers who sign up for the Whole Farm Approach when the whole system goes live next year, will be able to reduce the time they spend filling out forms and the number of inspection visits to their farm.

The system will continue to be enhanced over the next few years, adding more functionality and further increasing the benefits to be derived. We will be continuing the current close working relationship with both our regulatory partners, our IT suppliers and, most importantly, the farming industry to identify those areas where the greatest value can be added. Key areas being looked at are links with Farm Management Software and Farm Assurance schemes.

Lord Bach said: "This will simplify our working relationship with farmers and means we can co-operate more effectively than ever before."

"The Whole Farm Approach is an innovative IT system, but it is much more than that. It is also the start of a new partnership between Government and agriculture which is streamlined, effective and flexible.

"The benefits to the individual farmer are clear. It is currently estimated it could save farmers up to 15 hours a year because once they put their details on the system they won't need to again. It will save them money, up to £28million every year across the industry, because it reduces the hours they spend filling in forms and having farm inspections.

"This is, however, just the beginning. We hope it won't be too long before farmers can use the Whole Farm Approach to do everything from filling out the farm census and applying for the Single Payment Scheme to registering their animals and acquiring their waste licences exemptions.

"Our objective is to ensure that it serves the needs of our customers; English farmers. So we are starting by fine-tuning the system with the help of 300 farmers from around the country who will

participate in System Preview events. I hope thousands more will sign up for the Whole Farm Approach when it goes live early next year. It is only with the wide support of individual farmers who actually use the system that the real benefits to the industry as a whole can be achieved."

Lord Bach was joined for the unveiling of the new system by Tim Bennett, President of the National Farmers' Union, Baroness Young, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency and Jane Willis, Strategic Programme Director of the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr Bennett said: "The Whole Farm Approach is a welcome and central part of the new relationship between farmers and government. It will reduce duplication and make the requirements of regulation clearer and simpler to follow, allowing farmers to get on with running their businesses rather than chasing paper. The NFU has worked closely with Defra's development team to ensure that the system offers real time savings for farmers and growers. I would urge farmers to preview the system and prove its worth for themselves."

The Whole Farm Approach is being developed by Defra and its IT consultants IBM and SunGard. Its flexible design will ultimately allow farmers to communicate online not only with Defra but with a host of other departments and agencies.