We’ve submitted evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee as part of its short inquiry into the issues facing farmers in the uplands.
The inquiry follows a detailed report on the uplands by the Commission for Rural Communities. ‘High ground, high potential’ was published in June and provided an overview of the challenges and opportunities that upland communities face, along with potential solutions.
Our submission highlights the economic challenges faced by many uplands farmers, particularly when compared to other farming sectors and the wider economy.
It also flags the need for agri-environment agreements to be appropriate, flexible and support those who actively manage the land. Agreements must facilitate the responsiveness of farmers to market signals and complement productive agriculture.
And closely linked to the marginal viability of uplands farms are succession issues. Although 37% of upland farmers have succession secured, it is questionable for the majority - and 21% of upland farms are not expected to continue beyond the next five years. Further related is the loss of skills and knowledge. It should also be noted that like others in upland communities, access to services and their higher cost are increasingly impacting upland farmers.
The CRC report provides a ringing endorsement of the importance of hill farming to the identity and character of the English uplands. It is clear that hill farming matters to the environment, culture, landscape and most importantly food production of the uplands. As the report makes clear farmers, like other upland businesses, face real challenge in remoter rural areas without easy access to modern communications, disjointed government policies and costly housing for family and workers: the loss of young people is a major concern.
Although a specific vision for hill farming is not presented, many of the Commission’s recommendations are welcome in principle - faster broadband and mobile communications; investing in upland R&D and demonstration farms; developing new markets for existing land management; putting equal weight on economic and environmental priorities and, reviewing income foregone.
However, it should be remembered that action to resolve the many challenges identified in the report may not be immediately achieved.
For example, the markets for public goods are nascent although payments for ecosystem services represent an opportunity. Viable mechanisms must first be developed that are capable of gaining industry confidence and demonstrate that benefits go to those who actively manage the land.
As such, they should take account of the upland land tenure patterns that continue to case unusual challenges for agri-envrionment schemes. At the same time, there is a need for further recognition that planning policies impact on the continued development of on-farm infrastructure and must positively address succession issues.
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