Cymraeg There have been recent rumours that the Environmental Land Management Schemes being developed and piloted in England will be scrapped by the new Farming Minister, Mark Spencer following an article in the Guardian and subsequent media coverage. Environmental and farming groups in favour of the move from area-based subsidies to a new system based on environmental farming have been quick to defend progression of the new farm support scheme. In response, DEFRA has issued this statement.
So, it seems that ELMS is safe for now, but under fire and at risk. We want to be clear that the Landworkers’ Alliance, as a union of farmers and foresters, is fully supportive of ELMS, believing that we can produce food in a way that regenerates the environment. We have been active in co-designing measures to pay for soil management, horticulture, nutrient management, integrated pest management, agroforestry while lobbying for further payments to small farms and public engagement. We will remain involved in the development of an effective ELMS for a just transition to a secure food supply that doesn’t destroy the environment.
However, this flurry has raised the debate on how ELMS has been designed to date. Landworkers’ Alliance, alongside many environmental and farming stakeholders, understands that progress has been slow and communication to farmers hasn’t given them the security they need to plan for the future. Payment rates in the pilot phase of SFI have been incredibly low, and while further payments for new actions will come in the future, it seems doubtful that the levels of payment will match what they previously got through BPS.
The central reason for these failings is that the ELMS is seriously underfunded. SFI and LNR payment rates need to be high enough to cover income foregone and the capital costs of transition. Farmers need advice, training and peer support. The scheme needs to be widened to support small farms, public engagement and sectors, like horticulture, pig, poultry and peri-urban farms, which haven’t benefited from much subsidy before. Organic farming should be given a huge boost. And the current standards need to be tweaked through field tests on the ground by active farmers.
Above all, farmers need to see proof that this scheme will not put them out of business and provide the support they need to make their ideas for integrating environmental measures into farm practice into reality.
Currently, the ELMS has divided the farming budget of 3.5 billion between the SFI, LNR and Landscape Recovery, creating a shortfall in the budget for farming. Landscape Recovery is really important, however, it should be moved to its own well-funded environmental scheme and not detract from the money dedicated to sustainable farm management.
The solution is for the Government to dedicate much more than 3.5 billion to the SFI and LNR schemes, allowing for them to be broader, deeper and more ambitious. We also want to see a big budget for new entrants schemes to bring new innovative energy into the sector for a sustainable transition. This investment would pay itself back many times over in levelling up rural economies, creating jobs both in farming and ancillary industries, improving physical and mental health thereby saving money for the NHS and reducing our dependence on imports, which means more money circulating within the UK economy.
LWA will be writing to the new minister expressing our support for the progression of ELMS and also seeking a meeting to highlight our concerns alongside suggestions about how ELMS can become what it truly should be. We would like to hear feedback from you about your experiences with ELMS so far- positive and negative- as a part of our submission.
If you are a member or supporter based in England, now, more than ever, it is important to speak to your MP about why it is so important that the agricultural transition plan succeeds and please join us at the Good Food, Good Farming march in London on October 15th where we will be demanding a BIG BUDGET for ELMS to give it a chance to be the landmark policy it needs to be.
If you are a member or supporter from Scotland and Wales, we also need your support to develop a scheme that supports sustainable food production alongside environmental regeneration. It’s worth keeping an eye on ELMS as it unfolds because what happens in England will influence what happens in each devolved nation.
To get involved in Scotland or Wales join us for these events:
Scotland – 25th October, Scottish Parliament
We are calling on the Scottish Government to ensure that the upcoming Agriculture Bill recognises and supports the work of small farms and crofts. Register here!
Wales – 17th October, Cardiff
We will be inviting Senedd Members to join us for a banquet of seasonal Welsh food near Senedd in Cardiff, there we can talk to members of the Welsh parliament about our demands. If you’d like to get involved you can email Holly: holly.tomlinson@
This consultation on the Scottish Agriculture Bill is also happening now.
