Farmers, landowners and food producers employ a once-in-a-generation possibility to shape the way forward for English farming as well as the environment, with a consultation launched today by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.
The government’s proposals will discover money redirected from direct payments under the Common Agriculture Policy, that can be based on the level of land farmed, to an alternative system of handing over farmers “public money for public goods” – principally their job to enhance the actual environment and commit to sustainable food production.
Other public goods which might be supported include investment in technology and skills to enhance productivity, providing public use of farmland as well as countryside, enhanced welfare standards for livestock and measures to compliment the resilience of rural and upland communities.
The government continue to commit identical cash total in funds for farm support until the end of this Parliament in 2022.
It has today determined proposals to have an ‘agricultural transition’ lasting some time past the implementation period during which direct payments would continue, providing stability and certainty for farmers as they simply get ready for the fresh system.
At duration, however, reductions to direct payments to your largest landowners first could get back around
