NFU fights to get fair deal for hill farmers

Farmers in the uplands will be able to claim Hill Farm Allowance (HFA) for another year after the NFU persuaded Defra and Natural England that changing the scheme too quickly would cause administrative chaos.

The NFU fought to get a fair deal for hill farmers after Defra announced plans to introduce an Upland Entry Level Scheme (ELS) to replace the current Hill Farming Allowance during 2010.

Helen Little, the NFU’s uplands adviser in the North West, said: "I am relieved that the Government has decided to roll forward the current HFA for another year into 2010 and so ensure hill farmers have time to enter the Upland ELS without fear to their cash flow.

"This scheme will be vital help for hill farming at a time when incomes have slumped to a 10-year low of £6,000/farm. It is entirely right that Upland ELS should provide additional payment for the extra commitment hill farmers make to protect and manage Britain’s most hostile farmed landscape.

"Without continued livestock grazing by sheep and cattle many of our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be unrecognisable and inaccessible to the public."

Defra is to introduce the Upland ELS as a ’supplement’ to the current Entry Level Scheme from July 2010. It will offer annual payment in return for continued farm and landscape management. Support will be available for hay making, retaining cattle and protecting stone walls as well as maintaining stocking across heather and grass moorland.

NFU uplands spokesman and Cumbria hill farmer Will Cockbain said: "I am pleased that Natural England and Defra have listened carefully to the concern expressed by hill farmers during the pilot phase last summer and taken the pragmatic decision to roll forward HFA into 2010.

"Farmers are rightly concerned that this money goes to those who actively farm the land not those who happen to own it. Last summer we made clear that the scheme as was tested had significant practical problems for farmers. Following constructive discussions this autumn our main concerns have been resolved including higher rates for boundary management.

"Those on short term tenancy agreements also need access to this scheme – so we welcome the Minister’s request that the industry’s Tenancy Reform Group review and report on steps that could improve their position."