The meeting, which took place on NFU member Helen Drinkall’s farm, gave the Defra team the opportunity to see the realities of farming in the uplands and the current barriers of the SFI for upland businesses.
Defra’s vision for the future of the uplands was also discussed.
The recently expanded SFI offer includes a range of new moorland actions, however following recent changes to SFI actions the NFU has said the only “glimmer among the detail” is the new ‘moorland mapping (PA5)’ capital grant, at a payment of £918.08 per agreement, which funds mapping that accounts for all habitats and features. However, you can only apply every six years.
For ELMs to be a success in the uplands the NFU is calling for:
- The Minister to create an uplands working group to allow further discussions about how upland businesses are part of the solution to Defra’s environmental ambitions.
- Defra to undertake and publish an impact assessment of the current ELMs offer and a transition for upland businesses from direct payments.
- Clarification on ‘heavy sheep’ on the hills and how this limits upland business’s ability to apply for SFI.
- A clear strategy from Defra on its vision for the uplands and how businesses remain viable, profitable businesses.
- Wider SFI options available to upland farmers to be detached from destocking and shepherding actions (UPL1-3 and UPL7-10)
- Defra to give allowances for supplementary feeding within moorland options (UPL1-3, UPL7-10). Currently only mineral licks are allowed.
- Moorland stocking actions (UPL1-3) to be based on an average stocking density rather than a maximum rate.
Currently, the maximum grazing limits on the moor (UPL1-3, £20/ha to £66/ha) are maximums at any time, rather than an average over the year.
ELMs must work for all businesses
NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: “It was a great opportunity to have the Minister and Defra Director out on farm in Lancashire.
“They saw for themselves the vital role upland farmers play in producing food while also being stewards of some of the country’s most cherished landscapes.
“For ELMs to be a success it has got to work for all farm businesses, including those in the uplands.
“While NFU campaigning has led to positive increases in the number of options available for upland farmers under SFI, there still remains challenges about how hill farming businesses will be profitable while working to the income forgone model.
“For ELMs to be a success it has got to work for all farm businesses, including those in the uplands.”
NFU Deputy President David Exwood
“We need to give upland farmers confidence and certainty by seeing a clear strategy from Defra on its vision for the future of the uplands.
“The creation of an uplands working group is also key to ensuring upland businesses are part of the solution to Defra’s environmental ambitions.”
NFU North Uplands chair Dave Stanners called upland farmers “stewards of some of some of our most challenging and iconic landscapes”, adding that it was great to meet the Defra team on farm “so they can hear and see for themselves some of the challenges we are facing”.
“We want a clear strategy from government to support upland farmers so we can continue producing food and also ensure our farming businesses will be profitable,” he said.
Photograph: NFU and Defra representatives on a farm walk at Helen Drinkall’s farm
