Upland farmers face huge cut in profit
Upland farmers face huge cut in profit. This is exactly what Earth and Leaf is about – fixing this problem. Of course, the headline Upland farmers face huge cut in profit” implies upland farming is profitable which is an interesting assumption. Let’s get these farmers a decent income in return for a sustainable output. Keep farming families on the land, provide employment, reduce environmental damage, reduce carbon emissions and boost woodland and wildlife. By the way, its not just Yorkshire that will be badly affected. This is what our Shepherds of the Trees project aims to do and to do it we have to change hearts and minds.
{Earth and Leaf Editorial}
Upland farmers face huge cut in profit
Upland farmers face huge cut in profit
Data from rural consultancy Knight Frank shows the drastic reduction of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will have the biggest impact on farmers in Less Favoured Areas (LFAs), a transposed European Commission designation which provides special measures to assist farming.
Experts are warning the highest BPS claimants will be hardest hit as the maximum claim will now be £7,200.
It has been announced Defra will apply a 76 per cent reduction to the first £30,000 or less of a BPS payment, and a 100 per cent reduction to anything above this.
Defra has stated the overall support budget for England will be protected, with £2.4bn available for the coming financial year, along with a further £200m of unspent funds rolled over from previous years.
Some £1.8bn of this is being targeted at the three Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes – some £500m more than in the current financial year.
Farming minister Daniel Zeichner said: “ELM schemes will remain at the centre of our offer for farmers and nature, with the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery all continuing.”
Further reading from Earth and Leaf . . .
Richard Murphys excellent podcast which all farmers and consumers should see
Our Shepherds of the Trees project will tackle the problem head on
Upland farmers face huge cut in profit