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19/12/2008
New Funding To Help Hill Farmers Protect Historic Uplands
A new payment scheme that will reward hill farmers for protecting and enhancing the landscapes and environment of England's iconic uplands was announced by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn today.
The Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS) will replace the Hill Farm Allowance, and is designed to ensure that farmers are supported and rewarded in their efforts to maintain England's historic upland landscape, such as the Cumbrian Fells, Dartmoor and the Peak District.
Through the scheme, hill farmers will be rewarded for maintaining the biodiversity and natural resources of the area, which helps support the effort to fight and adapt to climate change, and for maintaining iconic features of the landscape such as dry stone walls and stone-faced hedge banks.
Defra is prepared to make available up to £31 million within the existing Rural Development Programme budget to fund uptake of Uplands ELS.
Hill Farmers are also eligible for other Environmental Stewardship schemes such as Higher Level Stewardship, Entry Level Stewardship and Organic ELS. They also receive the Single Payment.
Mr Benn said: "The uplands are absolutely fundamental to the English countryside. So much of our history, our art, our literature and our sense of identity are tied up in these glorious landscapes, and it is right that we should ensure that farmers are rewarded for looking after them.
"Following consultation and trials of the scheme over the summer, we have made a number of changes to respond to what farmers said to us."
To qualify for the Uplands ELS, farmers will have to meet a points threshold, adjusted for size of their farm, with points for a wide variety of land management practices including grazing cattle, maintaining dry stone walls, maintaining a minimum level of stock on moorlands, and not using fertiliser or supplementary feed within six metres of a water course.
Natural England is developing an advice programme to help farmers. This advice is likely to be available through a range of formats including workshops, demonstration days, leaflets and working with partner organisations.
(JM/KMcA)
The Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS) will replace the Hill Farm Allowance, and is designed to ensure that farmers are supported and rewarded in their efforts to maintain England's historic upland landscape, such as the Cumbrian Fells, Dartmoor and the Peak District.
Through the scheme, hill farmers will be rewarded for maintaining the biodiversity and natural resources of the area, which helps support the effort to fight and adapt to climate change, and for maintaining iconic features of the landscape such as dry stone walls and stone-faced hedge banks.
Defra is prepared to make available up to £31 million within the existing Rural Development Programme budget to fund uptake of Uplands ELS.
Hill Farmers are also eligible for other Environmental Stewardship schemes such as Higher Level Stewardship, Entry Level Stewardship and Organic ELS. They also receive the Single Payment.
Mr Benn said: "The uplands are absolutely fundamental to the English countryside. So much of our history, our art, our literature and our sense of identity are tied up in these glorious landscapes, and it is right that we should ensure that farmers are rewarded for looking after them.
"Following consultation and trials of the scheme over the summer, we have made a number of changes to respond to what farmers said to us."
To qualify for the Uplands ELS, farmers will have to meet a points threshold, adjusted for size of their farm, with points for a wide variety of land management practices including grazing cattle, maintaining dry stone walls, maintaining a minimum level of stock on moorlands, and not using fertiliser or supplementary feed within six metres of a water course.
Natural England is developing an advice programme to help farmers. This advice is likely to be available through a range of formats including workshops, demonstration days, leaflets and working with partner organisations.
(JM/KMcA)
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Farmers To Be Given More Flexibility On How To Implement EU Rules
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Rural Watchdog: Uplands Deserve An Upbeat Future
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Rural Watchdog: Uplands Deserve An Upbeat Future
An official inquiry into the challenges and opportunities facing England's upland communities advanced a stage further today when Dr. Stuart Burgess, the Government's Rural Advocate and Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) announced a 'call for evidence'.
26 July 2012
Farmers End Milk Blockades
Farmers have ended their blockade of a milk processing plant in Derbyshire. About 200 farmers, who have been at Dairy Crest's factory in Foston since Wednesday protesting over declining payments, have now left the site. There have been protests around the UK over the amount of money farmers are paid for milk.
Farmers End Milk Blockades
Farmers have ended their blockade of a milk processing plant in Derbyshire. About 200 farmers, who have been at Dairy Crest's factory in Foston since Wednesday protesting over declining payments, have now left the site. There have been protests around the UK over the amount of money farmers are paid for milk.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A mostly cloudy start with scattered showers, the showers becoming more isolated and largely confined to the south this morning. Becoming brighter this afternoon, the best of any sunnier spells across northern counties. Northerly winds easing. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
