Farmers will abandon nature-friendly practices and revert to intensive farming methods if funding is cut for environmental schemes.
That was the warning from the CLA ahead of the Spending Review tomorrow (June 11) which will set out the farming budget.
A poll of 460 CLA members found:
- 88% say they'll have to revert to intensive farming if funding is pulled for Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship schemes
- 95% say they will reduce the amount of land managed for the environment
- 98% say that Labour does not understand or respect rural communities
- 99% don't trust Labour to make decisions that benefit their business
- 76% say they are not in a position to fully fund the land management actions in their SFI/ CS agreements by themselves.
听CLA vice president Joe Evans said: "The Sustainable Farming Incentive is a brilliant policy - it's good for the farmer, the environment, the consumer and the government.
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"It is one of the most ambitious, forward-thinking agricultural schemes in the world, and we can see from the sheer variety of nature returning to our farmland that it is working.听
Defra
"If funding is withdrawn from the schemes, almost all our farmers will have no choice but to return to intensive farming - and it will become the latest betrayal from a government that promised it was here to help, not make things worse."听
James Cameron, a farmer in East Kennett, said:听"Since entering these schemes, my farm has become a haven for nature. What was once arable land, is now species-rich grassland. Red-listed birds, butterflies and bees have all returned in full force. What we have been able to build is magical.听
"But now, all of that could vanish. Our entire financial model depends on this scheme. If funding is cut, it will be disastrous."
He added they could not afford to fund the work themselves and the private sector 鈥榮imply is not there yet'.
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"We may have no choice but to re-adopt intensive farming practices just to stay afloat.听
"Farming is already an uncertain enough business. We need a government that brings stability, not one that plays policy roulette and makes it impossible to operate at every turn."
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