Oxford 2024: Defra dismisses call for review of new green schemes

Defra farming minister Mark Spencer has poured cold water on NFU demands for a mid-term review of Environmental Land Management (ELM) in England, suggesting there is already enough consultation with farmers to develop effective and appropriate schemes.

The call for a proper impact assessment of ELMs was made after Defra secretary Steve Barclay had revealed the latest updates to the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship at the Oxford Farming Conference on Thursday (4 January).

See also: Industry welcomes SFI expansion, but food production fears remain

NFU vice-president David Exwood said he welcomed the planned 10% payment uplift and the various new options, such as greater support for precision farming and the uplands.

But he expressed concern that funds taken from English farmers in Basic Payment Scheme cuts might not be fully returned, and called for more “business critical” detail about the new measures.

“We also repeat our calls for Defra to undertake a mid-term review – an urgent assessment is needed of the agricultural transition on food production and farm business viability,” said Mr Exwood.

“Currently, no such impact assessment exists and it is something we have said is an absolute must to ensure these new schemes are set up to succeed.”

Deliberation

But asked by Farmers Weekly whether he felt such a mid-term review was necessary, desirable and something he could commit to, Mr Spencer guarded against further deliberation.

“I think if you’re not careful you spend too long reviewing and then you end up with a review that is out of date by the time you achieve it,” he said.

“I spend my life reviewing the Sustainable Farming Incentive and receiving direct feedback from farmers, so we’re in a state of constant review.

“Farmers and farming unions are the ones that are giving us that direct feedback, and today is an example of how we are responding to that and are listening.”

Mr Spencer also denied that the 10% uplift in payments was a sign that uptake of the SFI 2023 was behind schedule.

And he reiterated the government commitment for the £2.4bn a year to be fully paid out to farmers during the life of this parliament, even with a general election looming later this year.