CLA and NFU launch campaign for the farmed environment

The CLA and NFU today published an industry-led "Campaign for the Farmed Environment" to retain the environmental benefits provided by set-aside.

The proposal, which meets the challenge laid down by Defra Secretary of State Hilary Benn, advocates a comprehensive and coordinated campaign of promotion, demonstration and engagement aimed at farmers and growers and their advisers. 

The proposal, which elaborates on Option B outlined in Defra's recent consultation on cross-compliance, argues that the site-specific benefits of set-aside are best retained by promoting the voluntary management of a relatively small area of farmland in well-located and positively managed ways. This is in contrast to Option A, which would require wasteful actions by farmers and growers.

CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "Farmers are the people who know best how to get the balance right between productive farming and sound environmental management and this campaign puts them in the driving seat. It champions those farmers in stewardship and provides a mechanism for farmers not participating in agri-environment schemes to do their bit.

"Let's be clear that the Campaign for the Farmed Environment is not the easy option. It will require farmers to make informed choices about environmental management on their land with the threat of a more draconian cross-compliance measure being implemented should this option fail to meet its targets.

"It is vital that the industry buys into this approach if it is not to fail. We recognise the important contribution that farm advisers such as agents, agronomists and conservationists make to influence management decisions on farm and we are delighted they are taking an active role in the development of the campaign." 

NFU President Peter Kendall said: "As farmers we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and believe that farmers and growers can and will rise to the challenge of addressing the environmental issues associated with the loss of compulsory set-aside. We are delighted to publish our proposals today and would encourage everyone to study them and to contrast our targeted approach that champions best practice against the arbitrary, costly and burdensome approach identified in Option A.

 "I believe that by encouraging participation in ELS and additional voluntary action by farmers we can do much more than simply address the loss of set-aside. I am also pleased that my discussions with AIC mean that agronomists and farm advisers will play a full part in the industry-led approach."

Notes to editors:

1. The CLA/NFU approach can be found on the NFU and CLA websites forms part of Defra's formal consultation. A formal proposal (taking into account views gathered in next month) will be presented to Defra ministers next month.

2. The Campaign  will  bring together organisations and bodies spanning the farming industry, advisory bodies, conservation groups and government agencies into a formal governance structure  led by a campaign steering group. This steering group will identify priorities and generate activities that help farmers and their advisers adapt land management if necessary. 

3. The Campaign will promote a combination of measures, primarily the Entry Level Stewardship Scheme (ELS), and encourage additional voluntary measures that will recapture the environmental benefits associated with former set-aside land. It will ensure that consistent advice, support, training and demonstration are available to farmers and their advisers to facilitate the implementation of these measures on-farm. The Campaign will report annually to Ministers on progress.

CLA, 16 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PQ

Press Officer: Phillippa Coates, phillippa.coates@cla.org.uk

Telephone: 020 7460 7934

http://www.cla.org.uk

The CLA is dedicated to supporting landowners by advising them on how best to protect and maximise their asset: the land.