Marking a year since the inception of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, a new annual report produced by the partnership highlights the real successes to date and the challenges for the year ahead.
Cross-industry efforts over the past 12 months have focused on raising awareness of the campaign through local events and focused promotional materials, providing farmers and land managers with advice on practices that work for their holding and the environment.
This advice has meant that farmers are aware of the CFE aims, and recent surveys have shown that they are keen ‘do their bit’ to avoid the introduction of a compulsory approach.
However, the annual report clearly demonstrates the vital need to turn enthusiasm and good intentions into action on the ground and the partners have issued a strong call for farmers to make a difference during this harvest and autumn cultivation period.
Jim Paice, Minister of State for the Environment and Rural Affairs, said: “The campaign has been making steady progress and the fact that farmers are volunteering to look after our biodiversity and natural resources is a great example of the Big Society at work.
“Progress has been made but we need to see farmers going further. The key priority for the campaign over the next 12 months will be to ensure as many as possible renew their ELS agreements, and carry out at least one voluntary measure to benefit the environment.”
The harvest and autumn cultivation period provides a great opportunity to create new environmental features on farm and taking part in the campaign is easy:
- If you are not on in ELS join the scheme and choose the key target options (in-field options)
- If your ELS agreement is coming up for renewal, renew it and take up key target options (in-field options)
- Retain your former set-aside and any other areas of uncropped land and record these on your Annual Defra June survey returns
- And most importantly, put areas outside of ELS into a Campaign voluntary measure
To find out more about the Campaign and to download a copy of the annual report visit www.cfeonline.org.uk.
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