Campaign for the farmed environment
1 November 2009
Farming
The 'Campaign for the Farmed Environment' is an industry-led approach to retain the environmental benefits provided by land formerly in set aside. It is a joint initiative, due to be launched by the NFU and the CLA, and forms an alternative to measures that have been set out under Option A in Defra’s recent consultation on changes to cross compliance measures.
The campaign proposes to run a stimulating and engaging programme to promote and encourage informed participation in environmental stewardship. Furthermore it encourages environmental management on land outside of agri-environment schemes in well located and positively managed ways.
ORGANISATION OF THE CAMPAIGN
An effective and engaging communication and activity programme will be put in place in order to help familiarise farmers with the small changes that will be required on their farms. This will include workshops and farm walks to be held at ‘beacon farms’ on a county basis. County liaison groups will hold events and should be a farmer’s first port of call. Each liaison group will include representatives from bodies such as Natural England and FWAG.
NFU produced literature such as information leaflets will be sent out, particularly to those members who are known to be entered in environmental stewardship schemes.
CAMPAIGN TIMESCALE
Autumn/ Winter 2009 - Communications campaign initiated to secure early buy in from farmers for the campaign.
5th November 2009 - Campaign launch (by way of brief press event).
Early 2010 - Delivery of programmes (e.g. advice programmes and leaflets).
November 2010 - First report to ministers (at Defra) of campaign achievements and success. Future of campaign dependant on outcome of this.
ACTIONS REQUIRED FROM FARMERS
Those farmers not currently entered in environmental stewardship schemes such as ELS are being encouraged to sign up. The campaign has a target of signing up 60% of farmers not currently in ELS to take part in the scheme.
Similarly, those farmers who are currently enrolled on the ELS scheme and whose agreements are coming to an end are encouraged to renew them and continue in the scheme.
Although ELS has been a success uptake of field boundary options, such as hedgerow management, have been far higher than uptake of in-field options such as skylark plots and wild seed mixes. The campaign aims to increase uptake of these in-field options as they are believed to have greater environmental benefits. Farmers are asked to carefully consider implementation of these in appropriate locations.
On all farms there are small areas of land not being used for commercial production or entered into agri-environment schemes. These may include areas of game cover or field pits for example. Farmers are encouraged to manage these in environmentally positive ways on a voluntary basis. Record keeping of actions implemented and their measured success is paramount to the success of the scheme, and for that reason an ‘on farm record’ is being developed by the NFU.
The principal message that the campaign is aiming to put across to farmers is that the key to success of the campaign is correct management in the right places. No radical management changes, in terms of the farm’s production system, should be required.
CONSEQUENCES OF A NEGATIVE OUTCOME OF THE CAMPAIGN
We would very much encourage farmers to be proactive and supportive of the campaign as it could potentially provide positive environmental outcomes resulting from a modest amount of voluntary effort. In the event of the campaign not providing sufficient environmental benefits, the alternative (Option A, as set out by Defra) will involve a greater compulsory land area to be entered into agri-environment schemes, increased administration similar to that required under the former set-aside regime, and more complex options under the ELS agreements. In light of this, we believe it is in farmers’ best interest to support and comply with the campaign.
FURTHER INFORMATION
As described in section 1, communications from county liaison groups should help to guide farmers through the campaign.
Visit the campaign’s very own website (www.cfeonline.org.uk) which will be live from the official launch on 5th November 2009.
For more information, please contact
George Hood, Farming Department, Strutt & Parker
Telephone: 01799 533 103
george.hood@struttandparker.com
Press Office, Strutt & Parker
Telephone: 020 7318 5195