Championing upland farming – a timeline of the NFU’s work
Upland farmers play a vital role in food production, environmental stewardship and rural economies. This timeline showcases how the NFU has worked to support and advocate for the sector.
Farming Minister shown impact of challenges on Dartmoor visit
NFU members from across Dartmoor met Farming Minister Stephen Morgan MP to showcase the value of upland farming and press for policies that support viable farming businesses, thriving rural communities and sustainable moorland management.
60 farmers and a panel of industry representatives including NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt, Phil Stocker, chair of the Dartmoor LUMG (Land Use Management Group), and Dave Slater, Natural England regional director for the Southwest, were in attendance.
UK farming unions convene to discuss concerns
Representatives from NFU Cymru, the NFU, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers’ Union met in Eryri National Park, North Wales, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing upland farming across the UK.
All four nations agreed that active farmers and their livestock can play an important role in managing vegetation, reducing fuel loads and delivering benefits for the environment and local communities.
Uplands survey launched
The NFU launched a survey to gather upland farmers’ views on the challenges and opportunities they are facing to help better understand the current pressures and priorities across the sector.
Board chairs meet to talk to members
Members from across Devon gathered at County Chair David Chugg’s farm to hear from the chairs of each of the region’s commodity boards, and from the NFU’s new Director General Sophie Throup.
NFU backs call for ‘system-wide change’ to uplands policy
The NFU pressed the government to act immediately on Dr Hilary Cottam’s review of England’s uplands, having contributed to the work. The review identified 19 ‘insights’ to the challenges facing the upland areas, aimed at achieving a system-wide change.
In the short term, the NFU pushed for upland farms and common land to have access to a suitably tailored revamped Sustainable Farming Incentive and support to transition into Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier.
The NFU said that it will also engage fully with a Defra-backed seven-year Dartmoor and Cumbria project to ensure upland farmers’ voices shape meaningful policy change.
Vice-president hears from members on key issues
NFU North organised a two-day regional tour for NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt, where she heard directly from upland farmers across Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria.
Through farm visits and meetings, the NFU gathered members’ views on uplands management, engagement with Natural England, agricultural support schemes and the proposed reintroduction of white-tailed eagles.
NFU provides legal assistance in Dartmoor stocking-level case
The NFU provided support through its Legal Assistance Scheme to the Dartmoor farming community during a judicial review brought by Wild Justice. The High Court rejected most of the legal grounds but upheld the challenge concerning the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council’s failure to carry out an adequate assessment of the number of animals that could properly graze the commons. The ruling requires the council to undertake a lawful and meaningful assessment of stocking capacity.
Uplands Vision delivered to government
The NFU North and South Uplands Groups met MPs, Defra and Natural England to deliver the findings of its Uplands Vision and discuss the role of upland farms in food production, environmental stewardship and rural communities.
MPs present at the meeting included Markus Campbell-Savours (Labour, Penrith and Solway), Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire), Tim Farron (Lib Dem Efra spokesperson, Westmorland and Lonsdale) and Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore (Conservative, Keighley and Ilkley).
NFU contests heather and grass burning restrictions
The NFU challenged Defra’s extension of restrictions on heather and grass burning, warning that limiting controlled burns could increase wildfire risks and undermine upland livestock businesses.
Having responded to the government consultation and contributed to industry workshops, the NFU called for the changes to be paused pending an impact assessment covering wildfire risk, food production and farm viability.
It also advocated for research into controlled cool burning, assessments of moorland’s potential for rewetting, funding for national wildfire preparedness, and a licensing system that respects farmers’ local knowledge and does not create barriers to responsible land management.
Despite the NFU’s objections, the amended regulations came into force on 30 September 2025.
The NFU has continued to argue for an evidence-based approach that recognises controlled burning and grazing as potential tools in wildfire prevention.
Uplands Vision promoted in the South
The NFU launched its Uplands Vision for the South at Greenwell Farm on Dartmoor, led by South Uplands Group Chair Mat Cole and then-NFU Deputy President David Exwood.
NFU dispels Chris Packham’s claims that the uplands are ‘dying’
The NFU challenged Chris Packham’s claims about sheep farming on Dartmoor, with Mat Cole writing to The Guardian to highlight upland farmers’ contribution to food security, biodiversity and landscape management.
Uplands Vision officially launched
The NFU Upland Groups published a new practical roadmap for securing the long-term prosperity of upland farming – the Uplands Vision. Within it, the NFU called for targeted government policies and closer collaboration with farmers to create resilient, innovative businesses that produce nutritious, climate-friendly food while supporting nature recovery, flood mitigation and wider environmental goals.
It also championed the interests of family farms and tenants, pressing policymakers to recognise their vital role in protecting iconic landscapes, cultural heritage and rural economies.
NFU raises upland concerns during Land Use Framework consultation
The NFU Uplands South Group, led by Mat Cole, warned that the government’s proposed Land Use Framework could place disproportionate pressure on upland farms to take land out of food production.
It encouraged farmers to respond to the consultation, so the economic, social and environmental value of upland farming was recognised.
The government subsequently published the final Land Use Framework for England in March 2026, committing to maintain overall food production and stating that the framework would not prescribe land uses on individual holdings.
NFU campaign secures improved payments for HLS farmers
The NFU joined the RSPB, National Trust and Wildlife and Countryside Link in calling for fairer treatment for farmers in Higher Level Stewardship agreements. Shortly afterwards, the government announced a £30 million uplift covering 157 HLS options, backdated to 1 January 2025.
The NFU continued to press for a clear and timely route for agreement holders moving into newer environmental schemes.
NFU working groups press for smoother transition into SFI
NFU Uplands North and South Groups called on the government to prevent damaging funding gaps as farmers moved from legacy environmental agreements into the Sustainable Farming Incentive. The groups presented policy solutions to the NFU’s Food, Farming and Environment Board, secured NFU backing for an uplift in existing Higher Level Stewardship payments, and worked with Defra and the Rural Payments Agency to improve transitions between schemes.
Defra Secretary acknowledges upland challenges in Parliament
Following months of lobbying, the NFU secured greater political recognition of the challenges facing upland farmers, with then-Defra Secretary Steve Reed acknowledging in Parliament that they had been left behind during the transition from direct payments. Through farm visits and meetings with Defra and the Rural Payments Agency, the NFU highlighted gaps in financial support and barriers to accessing the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
The NFU called for an uplands working group, an assessment of current environmental schemes, more flexible SFI options, and improved payments for existing agreements.