The meeting, which took place on NFU member Helen Drinkall鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 鈥済limmer among the detail鈥� is the new 鈥榤oorland mapping (PA5)鈥� capital grant, at a payment of 拢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鈥檚 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 鈥榟eavy sheep鈥� on the hills and how this limits upland business鈥檚 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, 拢20/ha to 拢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: 鈥淚t was a great opportunity to have the Minister and Defra Director out on farm in Lancashire.
鈥淭hey saw for themselves the vital role upland farmers play in producing food while also being stewards of some of the country鈥檚 most cherished landscapes.
鈥淔or ELMs to be a success it has got to work for all farm businesses, including those in the uplands.
鈥淲hile 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.
鈥�For ELMs to be a success it has got to work for all farm businesses, including those in the uplands.鈥�
NFU Deputy President David Exwood
鈥淲e need to give upland farmers confidence and certainty by seeing a clear strategy from Defra on its vision for the future of the uplands.
鈥淭he creation of an uplands working group is also key to ensuring upland businesses are part of the solution to Defra鈥檚 environmental ambitions.鈥�
NFU North Uplands chair Dave Stanners called upland farmers 鈥渟tewards of some of some of our most challenging and iconic landscapes鈥�, adding that it was great to meet the Defra team on farm 鈥渟o they can hear and see for themselves some of the challenges we are facing鈥�.
鈥淲e 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,鈥� he said.
Photograph: NFU and Defra representatives on a farm walk at Helen Drinkall鈥檚 farm
