New payment scheme for hill farmers

The Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS), which replaces the Hill Farm Allowance (HFA), will have a pot of £31 million to pay hill farmers for general upkeep of the countryside.

Farmers in areas such as the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Dartmoor and the Lake District will be the main recipients.

Huw Irranca-Davies, Environment Minister, commended the scheme to farmers at its launch in the Peak District this morning.

He said: “The uplands reflect a fundamental aspect of the English countryside.

“Uplands ELS will be available to all uplands farmers who make the commitment to protect wildlife, look after watercourses, and ensure that grazing helps the landscape, as well as looking after historic sites and dry-stone walls.”

Hill farmers who join Uplands ELS will remain eligible for the Single Payment scheme, as well as other Environmental Stewardship schemes, such as Higher Level Stewardship, Entry Level Stewardship and Organic ELS. 

To qualify for the Uplands ELS, farmers will have to farm in the designated areas and meet a points threshold based on a wide variety of land management practices including grazing cattle, maintaining dry stone walls and maintaining a minimum level of stock on moorlands.

Poul Christensen, chairman of Natural England, said the scheme would have multiple benefits.

“It will enhance the upland environment both for wildlife and for the many people who rely on it for food, water, leisure and climate change adaptation.”

The scheme is the first of its type to recognise under-grazing by setting a minimum stocking density. The move was welcomed by Will Cockbain, NFU uplands spokesman, but he said the NFU would watch closely to make sure the scheme was of real benefit to farmers.

Farmers can apply for Uplands ELS by requesting an application pack or using ELS Online at www.wholefarm.defra.gov.uk. The first agreements will begin on 1 July and farmers seeking this start date should apply by 1 May.

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