'Huge impact for farmers' - CLA voices fears over accelerated reduction in the payments
Concerns have been raised over plans for reductions in delinked payments, which replaced Basic Payment Scheme payments, from next year.
Defra confirmed that payments will be reduced in 2025.
For the first £30,000 received, there will be a reduction of 76 per cent.
For any payments above £30,000, the money received above £30,000 will be reduced by 100 per cent.
Defra say that this reduction in delinked payments will increase the pot of money for environmental land management schemes, and therefore enable more farmers to access funding from these schemes.
But the Country Land and Business Association says, while the government’s commitment to the rollout of the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes in the Autumn Budget is welcome news, it will not be enough to deliver its ambition for nature or support the full potential of the industry.
Sophie Dwerryhouse, Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Midlands Regional Director, said: "Those receiving the remaining direct payments expected to see a gradual decline over the final three years.
“This proposal will have a huge impact for farmers across the Midlands, affecting cash flow projections and cropping causing significant damage to investment in farming and diversified businesses.”
A recent survey of 250 farmers and landowners by the CLA has revealed how they want to feed the nation and deliver for nature, but the UK Government’s Environmental Land Management schemes are critical to their survival.
The survey found that 80 per cent of respondents said they ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that payments through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes are critical to ensure their businesses stay viable. Just 8 per cent ‘strongly disagreed’ or ‘disagreed’.
