Funding

The future of farm support in England has been plunged into uncertainty once more, as Defra appeared to tear up its Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme plans.

The European Union is considering increasing its farming budget in order to boost food security, leading to calls for the UK to do the same.

Tenant farmers must be given full, independent access to all Government schemes and incentives if the sector is to thrive in a future agricultural landscape, according to the Rock Review which has been published today.

The chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, has said he intends to look at the possibility of maintaining an element of direct support for ‘small’ farmers.

MPs have received assurances that the agricultural policy review being carried out by Defras new ministerial team will tweak the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, not revolutionise it.

MPs have received assurances that the agricultural policy review being carried out by Defra’s new ministerial team will ‘tweak’ the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, not ‘revolutionise’ it.

Defra has pledged to keep the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme in place, despite a commitment from the new ministerial team to a rapid review of farm support.

‘All options’, including an area-based payment, are being considered by the new Defra team to reform agricultural support and help farmers through this inflationary period, Farmers Guardian understands.

All options, including an area-based payment, are being considered by the new Defra team to reform agricultural support and help farmers through this inflationary period, Farmers Guardian understands.

Growers across the UK fear the newly announced Energy Price Guarantee could come too late to save next years crop.