CLA responds to latest ELM scheme announcement:- 'Time is running out'

THE CLA (Country Land and Business Association) has expressed its concern that delays to the opening of the Government's 2024 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme will be disastrous for farm businesses.

Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Defra secretary Steve Barclay announced funding uplifts, streamlined application processes, and enhanced environmental incentives as part of the 2024 SFI scheme.

But it will not open for applications until at least the summer.

The delay, coupled with cuts to Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments, will leave many farm businesses facing a perfect storm of problems.

Mr Barclay's announcement included:-

• A 10% increase in the average value of agreements in the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship driven by increased payment rates.
   

• A streamlined single application process for farmers to apply for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier.
   

• Around 50 new actions that farmers can get paid for across all types of farm businesses, including actions for agroforestry and those driving forward agricultural technology such as:- robotic mechanical weeding.

Country Land and Business Association President Victoria Vyvyan said:- "There is a lot to like about SFI 2024. The increased payment rates and the variety of new actions show that the voice of the CLA has been heard. However, we are very concerned that farmers will have to wait until this summer, at the earliest, before the application window opens. This means that, at best, farmers will receive no SFI 24 income until the end of the year whilst facing remorseless cuts to the Basic Payment. We have significant concerns about the readiness of the Rural Payment Agency's IT systems to deal with the new options and the streamlining of ELMs and Countryside Stewardship. There is real danger that the delivery will be held-up as it was in 2023, and that the application window will be pushed back. The CLA remains a supporter of Environmental Land Management schemes but time is running out. Government has been listening and learning on actions and payment rates, but without effective delivery the schemes will lose the confidence and trust of the farming community."

The Government has also been accused of breaking its promise to English farmers, with hundreds of millions of pounds unspent from its budget.

Ministers had promised that by the end of this Parliament, they would spend £2.4bn a year on agriculture. But they've spent less than £2.3bn in each of the last 2 years.

CLA Director North Lucinda Douglas, said:- "Defra's repeated underspend of the farming budget, amounting to more than £200 million in the last 2 years, has knocked farmers' confidence at a crucial time in the agricultural transition process. We fully support the Government's Environmental Land Management schemes and the model of public payment for public goods, but it must now urgently deliver on its promises and funding pledges. This money should be with farmers who are impacted upon most by ever increasing cuts to BPS. Farmers are already delivering environmental outcomes while feeding the nation and SFI payments should support the sector to enable the continued delivery, rather than contributing to its financial turmoil and future uncertainty."

Letter to Editor:- "Liverpool University Medical school 1971 graduates attempting to locate a former colleague."

"THE LUMS71 [Liverpool University Medical School] graduates of 1971 are holding their somewhat belated 50th Anniversary in October 2024. This event has been prosponed until now due to the Pandemic. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find Alison who was a GP in the Southport and Formby area. Dr Alison Newman (Formerly, Oddy) was special as she achieved Hons and distinctions in her exams. She was also the Secretary of the Students' Society, and Alison would be sorely missed if did not attend. If you can help locate her, please get her to contact us, via Southport Reporter." Best wishes, Dr Stuart Mellor MB ChB, F RCOG.
 

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