Funding

The Government has unveiled plans to introduce three tiers of the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) which will replace the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Defra has today published two important new documents on the Environmental Land Management Scheme and future farming policy. Abi Kay explores what they say.

Defra has proposed making payments to farmers based on income foregone and costs incurred under ‘Tier 1’ of its proposed new agriculture scheme.

A new bank specifically designed for farmers by farmers is hoping to give the industry confidence to invest and grow as direct support from the Government falls away.

New Defra Secretary George Eustice has been told securing a ‘fair Brexit transition’ for farmers must be a top priority, as farm groups set out their key asks of Government for the coming months.

Removing direct payments before properly testing the new public goods system is reckless and will put hill farmers out of business, says Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP and Lib Dem agriculture spokesman.

Having George Eustice at the cabinet table during such a pivotal time for agriculture will benefit farmers across the whole of the UK, says Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative Shadow Rural Affairs Minister.

A top Welsh Government official has said the problems associated with developing post-Brexit policy for cross-border farms ‘keep him awake at night’.

Eustice’s appointment as Defra Secretary seemed to be a popular one among farmers, but this just shows they haven’t been paying attention, says Hywel Davies, who is a partner at Cyfreithwyr Llys Cennen Solicitors and helps his parents run the Aman flock of pedigree Texel sheep, the 2018 Champion Flock of Wales.

Farmers have been encouraged to apply for funding under a 2021 Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement to improve their local environment.