Farming news: Campaign for the Farmed Environment being launched today (From Yeovil Express)

Farming news: Campaign for the Farmed Environment being launched today

12:10am Thursday 5th November 2009

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FARMING and conservation groups will today (Thursday, November 5) join forces with the Government in a groundbreaking agreement to help farmers and land managers protect and enhance the nation’s countryside.

The Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) aims to retain the environmental benefits formerly provided by set-aside under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) in three key areas – resource protection, farmland birds and farm wildlife.

The industry-led voluntary approach, which was given backing from Government in July, is seen as the most viable alternative to retaining the environmental benefits that were provided by set aside.

A network of Beacon Farms will be established across the country to demonstrate how the CFE will work in practice, as well as allowing other farmers and land managers to share ideas in backing the Campaign.

All farmers, land managers and advisers have a key role to play in ensuring the CFE is a success.

The Campaign is asking farmers and land managers to renew their existing Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) agreements and choose at least one in-field option (if they are in ELS), retain and correctly record their current area of uncropped land and adopt at least one voluntary measure to meet the campaign targets.

Advisers and agronomists are also being challenged to ensure they understand the environmental challenges for farming.

The Campaign unites key industry stakeholders - the NFU, CLA, AIC, FWAG, GWCT, LEAF, AICC and CAAV - to work in partnership with Defra, Natural England, the Environment Agency and the RSPB.

Working at grassroots is seen as key and Local Liaison Groups have been set up in target counties to provide tailored advice and guidance to farmers and land managers depending on the environmental challenges and opportunities in their area.

The Campaign will also bring together the many and confusing projects aimed at farmers’ management under a single banner.

A number of challenging objectives and targets have been set, and must be met over the next three years, to avoid the potential for future regulation. Targets include.

* Double the area of key in-field ELS options (additional 40,000 hectares).

· Retain 179,000 hectares of uncropped land across England and improve the management of at least one third of this land to support habitats for birds, insects and mammals.

* Increase the current national level of voluntary environmental management by at least 30,000 hectares.

NFU President Peter Kendall and CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher have invited Defra Secretary of State Hilary Benn to join them for today’s launch at Mr Kendall's farm in Bedfordshire.

Mr Kendall said: “This is all about delivering a culture change in both farming practices and the way we approach regulation.

"Although it’s the most ambitious campaign farming has ever faced, the whole industry, from suppliers and advisers to farmers and landowners, is absolutely committed to making it work.

"The alternative is having the regulatory option forced upon us which will no doubt bring with it more red tape and cost to farmers and growers.

“We all have a part to play in making sure this Campaign works. All farms have wildlife, natural resources and farmland birds that need protecting and no-one cares more for the land than our farmers, growers and landowners.

"They know that a healthy environment is vital for a sustainable future; one in which we can grow more but impact less.

“This Campaign is all about the industry uniting to bring about change but we’re also encouraging ideas and initiatives from any organisations that think they have something to offer.

“We have all been challenged by the Secretary of State, who has shown belief in the farming industry, and it is now down to every single one of us to work together and deliver on our promises to secure and enhance the environmental management of farmland.”

CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: “Every farmer, landowner, land manager and farm adviser has been given a tremendous opportunity to show the industry can work together to solve environmental challenges without the need for costly and burdensome regulation.

"However, it will take commitment from every one of us to make the Campaign a success.

“I urge every farmer, landowner and land manager to adopt at least one of the Campaign’s voluntary measures on their land whether this be retaining and managing former set-aside to protect soil and watercourses, increasing game cover to provide winter food for farmland birds or sowing pollen and nectar mixes to boost on-farm pollinators. There is something for everyone in the Campaign.”

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: “The Campaign for the Farmed Environment is a testament to the determination of farmers, government, and environmental organisations to work together to support and protect wildlife and biodiversity.

"Two thirds of England’s farmers have so far put part of their land into an agri-environment scheme and the Campaign’s challenge is to build on this excellent start.

“And for those yet to join a scheme, we want to encourage them to take voluntary action that best fits how they farm, so they can support wildlife and protect water quality while continuing to produce food in a sustainable way.”

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