THERE has been a mixed response to the proposed new Agriculture Bill, which will govern post-Brexit farming policy, when it was introduced in Parliament last week with some farming bodies saying it doesn’t go far enough.
The bill sets out how farmers and land managers will in future be paid for “public goods” such as better air and water quality, improved soil health, higher animal welfare standards, public access to the countryside and measures to reduce flooding.
This will replace the current subsidy system of direct payments, which is skewed towards the largest landowners and is not linked to any specific benefits and will be phased out during a seven year period to avoid any “cliff edge” scenarios.
Under the new system, farmers and land managers will be expected to sign environmental land management contracts and those who provide the greatest environmental benefits will secure the largest rewards.
However, ministers refused to specify how much farmers would receive under the new reforms.
Environment secretary Michael Gove said: “It will allow us to reward farmers who protect our environment, leaving the countryside in a cleaner, greener and healthier state for future generations. Farmers will be supported over a seven year transition period as we leave the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP).”
National Farming Union president Minette Batters said: “Farmers across the UK will be very concerned that the bill provides only a short term commitment to improve their competitiveness; we cannot future-proof farming businesses based on the ‘time-limited’ initiatives outlined in this announcement.
“It is vital that in the future British farmers can continue to meet the food needs of a growing population.
“A future agricultural policy that ignores food production will be damaging for farmers and the public alike.
“The public demand and deserve safe, high-quality, traceable affordable food, whatever their income. And moreover they want British farms to supply that food.”
CLA president Tim Breitmeyer added: “Proposals to reduce payments in manageable increments, spread across the farming industry, will enable businesses to avoid the risk of rapid change with no time to prepare.
“The Government must now ensure that further cuts align with the introduction of the new environmental land management contracts to avoid any cliff edges for farm businesses.”
The National Sheep Association (NSA) fears the proposed bill does not go far enough to recognise the breadth or depth of public goods already being delivered. NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “Having a transition period is one thing, but we need confidence we are transitioning to something that is workable and viable. Farmers would prefer to be in a position where they are not reliant on support payments but market mechanism and many farm structures just do not allow for that at the moment.”
Elliot Taylor, associate at Barnard Castle land agents George F. White, said: “It is clear that there may be two paths available to farmers going forward.
“Some will look to focus on production and take advantage of the future funding opportunities for investment, innovation and efficiency.
“Others will look to focus on the environment, air and water, taking advantage of non-direct targeted payments for delivery of ‘public goods’.”
