Norfolk farmer calls for balance between food security and environmental sustainability
It follows demands from a farming group for food producers to be given a Universal Basic Income
A farmer in Norfolk is telling us that a balance needs to be found between incentives targeted towards food security and environmental sustainability.
It follows demands from a farming group, BI4FARMERS, for food producers to be given a Universal Basic Income for their work.
"The dial has swung in favour of environmental payments"
Nick Deane lives and works near Hoveton: "Food security is critical to feed the nation and we need to reduce the risks there are around farming, to keep growing high quality food.
"The dial has swung in favour of environmental payments and not in favour of production payments. There's a greater subsidy available for putting solar panels on your land than there is for producing food. That seems like an imbalance to me.
"The balance needs to be correct so that we keep sufficient incentives in a very risky market, to ensure that we can produce the food needed. The important thing is that we also produce high quality food and prevent the importation of food that would be illegal to grow here.
"Recent memories are of wet weather, but ones before that are of very dry periods. Those volatilities are going to change, add the climate volatility to the market volatility, and you get risks associated with your farming business. It means that many are looking at these risks and thinking, is it worth taking them?"
Support before Brexit:
Prior to leaving the EU, many UK farms were supported by subsidies. In 2019, the UK received approximately £4.7 billion in funding from the EU, under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), introduced in 1962.
80% of this money was provided through the Basic Payments Scheme (BPS): subsidies granted based upon the area of land kept suitable for grazing or under cultivation.
Without these subsidies, between 19% and 42% of farms would have been unable to break even.
"Making entering a career in farming affordable for new entrants”
Jo Poulton, BI4Farmers Coordinator, said: “British farmers are overworked and underpaid but the Brexit process presents an ideal opportunity to change this.
“A basic income for farmers would guarantee an adequate income, improving access to time off and reasonable working hours and making entering a career in farming affordable for new entrants.”
Ruth West, Co-Founder of the Oxford Real Farming Conference, said: “Concerned citizens, farmers in dire straits, policymakers and all those who care about a fairer food system should get on board and help move this practical, doable plan to the next phase.
“BI4Farmers presents us with a golden opportunity for a sustainable farming future. It's an opportunity we must not miss.”
What are the Government doing to support farmers now?
At the start of the year, the Government announced what they calling "the biggest upgrade to the UK’s farming schemes since leaving the European Union", which includes:
-A 10% increase in the average value of agreements in the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship driven by increased payment rates, with uplifts automatically applied to existing agreements.
-A streamlined single application process for farmers to apply for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier.
-Around 50 new actions that farmers can get paid for across all types of farm businesses, including actions for agroforestry and those driving forward agricultural technology such as robotic mechanical weeding.
-Enhanced payments for ‘creation’ and ‘maintenance’ options to improve the long term incentives for farmers to create habitats and ensure they are rewarded for looking after habitats once they have created them.
-Premium payments for actions with the biggest environmental impact or combinations of actions that deliver benefits at scale, such as £765 per hectare for nesting plots for lapwing, and £1,242 per hectare for connecting river and floodplain habitat.
"We’re also making it easier for farmers of every farm type"
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:
"Farmers do the essential job of keeping Britain fed. That’s why I’ll back British farmers and help support farming businesses.
"We have listened to farmers’ feedback and set out the biggest upgrades to our farming schemes since leaving the EU, with more money, more choice and more trust to support domestic food production whilst also protecting the environment.
"We’re also making it easier for farmers of every farm type and size to enter the schemes, and I encourage everyone to take a look at how you can join the thousands of other farmers and land managers who are already receiving our backing through the schemes."