The latest Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) survey [1] on the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) [2] released today shows it continues to fall short of expectations. Crucially, it is failing to achieve one of its core purposes – retaining and increasing the area of uncropped land to maintain the environmental benefits of the now abolished set-aside scheme [3].  And the task of providing these benefits is not being met by all farmers. Following a review, the Government is due to decide on the future of the CFE later this year.

Ian Woodhurst, CPRE’s farming campaigner said, “Given these disappointing findings it’s important that the Government conducts a thorough review. We believe it’s important that farmers are clear about what’s expected of them and that they all need to contribute towards making farming practices more environmentally sustainable.”

Following the publication of the survey, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is calling for the review of the CFE to address three key areas of concern:

•    How the CFE can ensure all farmers help improve the environmental quality of England’s farmed environment. While many farmers are doing good things through the CFE, they continue to be let down by others who appear unwilling or reluctant to play their part.

•    A rigorous appraisal of whether the voluntary approach of the CFE has provided better value for money than a mandatory requirement for all farmers, taking into account all the costs expended by the organisations involved.

•    How the CFE will work alongside proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that aim to make the CAP deliver more for the environment.

The voluntary approach of the CFE has helped government agencies, farming and wildlife organisations work more closely with farmers to introduce vital green farming measures in some areas. But CPRE remains sceptical about whether a voluntary approach will ultimately be as effective as a simple requirement for all farmers to put a small percentage of their land into environmental measures. Defra has put around £1.5m of public money into the CFE and it has to rely on Government agencies and farming and wildlife organisations to persuade farmers to pitch in, and publicly funded green farming schemes to deliver its aims. The partner organisations involved [4] have contributed enormous amounts of time, money and effort to try to make the CFE work. Yet surveys suggest a hard core of farmers are still unwilling to participate.

Ian Woodhurst concluded, “It’s likely that forthcoming reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy will introduce further environmental requirements for farmers so the CAP delivers more public benefits. The reforms provide an opportunity to introduce measures that recognise the work of those farmers who are doing their bit for the environment, and to prevent others from doing very little or nothing at all.”


End

Notes to Editors
[1] The survey of land managed under the Campaign for the Farmed Environment 2011/12 crop year – England was published on 10th May. It is available from: http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/foodfarm/enviro/landenvmanage/
Key results are: Table 2.2 - If you are in ELS did you join or renew in response to the campaign: Joined ELS in response to the Campaign (% of holdings): 10%; Renewed ELS agreement in response to the Campaign: 34%; Did not join/renew; 57%. Table 5.1 - Have you retained any uncropped land or left cultivatable land out of production? Yes (percentage of holdings): 37%; No: 63%. Table 5.2 - Total area of cultivatable land out of production not in agri-environment schemes: November 2009 (area in hectares) 157,355ha; Feb 2010 155,875ha; Feb 2011 130,374; Feb 2012 82,409. Table 6.1 - Have you put land into some form of unpaid environmental management by choosing at least one of the Campaign voluntary measures? Yes (percentage of holdings) 24%; No - 76%.

[2] In 2009 the Government consulted on two alternatives for retaining the environmental benefits of set-aside. One was a mandatory approach that would require all farmers to put a small percentage of their land into environmental management. The other was a voluntary approach devised by the farming industry which the Government decided to implement. The Campaign for the Farmed Environment was therefore established. The CFE’s aim is to encourage farmers to sign up to options in the Entry Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ELS), and implement additional voluntary actions that aim to recapture the environmental benefits associated with former set-aside land. It provides advice, support, and training to farmers and their advisers who choose to participate in the Campaign in order to facilitate the implementation of measures on their farms.

[3] Set-aside was introduced in 1988 to prevent over-production of food by taking agricultural land out of production. Set-aside land could then be managed to produce environmental benefits, for example by providing areas of feeding habitat for wildlife and by preventing water courses becoming contaminated by agricultural sprays. Areas of set-aside also added to the diversity of the landscape by creating patches of non-cultivated land. In recent years around 500,000 hectares of land has been left fallow or put into set-aside, making it England’s third largest land use. CPRE agreed that set-aside should be phased out, now that the CAP no longer requires farmers to produce particular crops to receive farming payments, but called for a mandatory measure to be introduced to prevent the loss of the environmental benefits accrued while set-aside existed.

[4] CFE partner organisations include: National Farmers Union, Country Land and Business Association, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, and Linking Environment and Farming, working in partnership with Defra, Natural England, the Environment Agency and the RSPB. For further details see http://www.cfeonline.org.uk/

For the first time the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming, are bringing people across Norfolk together to talk about how to support their local food networks.

Food is essential for our existence and a strong local food network creates employment, fosters a sense of community and can help to keep our high streets and small businesses thriving, along with the environmental benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Feeding the Future conference will bring together  planners, countryside managers, parish and town councils, councillors and local food initiatives to see how we can create a strong local food economy.

Thea Platt, Local Food Campaigner for CPRE, says: “Local food is about much more then reducing food miles. It can be an important part of the local economy supporting 1,000s of local jobs in farming, food production and at food outlets. Local food businesses also add to community life, help local good causes and support diversity in farming and the local countryside.

“We know from our work mapping local food webs that the strength and value of these networks can depend greatly on the support they have from local councils, chambers of commerce, suppliers, outlets and of course, local people. We hope that by getting as many of these people together as possible we can develop a way to strengthen and improve the local food webs of Norfolk and Norwich.”

The event is being sponsored by the Big Lottery Fund as part of the Making Local Food Work programme and will be chaired by Kath Delmeny, Director of Policy at Sustain.

Other speakers will include: Tim O’Riordan, President of CPRE Norfolk; Clare Devereux, Food Matters; Mike Mack, Easton College; Paul Campbell, We Love Local Food; Chris Hull, Farmshare, Thea Platt and Karen Gardham CPRE.

Feeding the Future conference is being held in Dragon Hall, 115-123 Kind Street, Norwich NR1 1QE on Wednesday 9 May from 10.30 to 15.30.

Tickets and further information can be found by contacting Suzanne Natelson, 020 7837 1228, suzanne@sustainweb.org, www.localactiononfood.org.

The Government has today published its response to over 200 recommendations made by the Farming Regulation Task Force [1].

Rural campaigners have welcomed proposals that should mean progress in a number of areas but remain concerned about how changes to planning policy could affect the countryside.

Commenting on the Government’s response, Ian Woodhurst, CPRE’s Senior Farming Campaigner says:

“CPRE is pleased that both the Government and the Task Force clearly recognise the important role well-implemented environmental regulation plays in protecting the countryside's wildlife and much-loved landscapes.

“We are particularly pleased that the Hedgerows Regulations have avoided being weakened and we warmly welcome the Government’s plan to hold a national fly-tipping summit. A number of local CPRE groups are working with farmers to find ways of tackling the growing problem of fly-tipping.

“CPRE has long campaigned for an end to the uncertainty over how the planning system deals with polytunnels so it can tackle concerns over their cumulative impact on local landscapes. We are pleased this campaign is finally bearing fruit and welcome the Government’s undertaking to examine the issue. We look forward to helping to develop a workable solution that supports fruit and veg producers without damaging the character of our countryside.”

“We are very concerned by moves to relax planning controls that could allow farm buildings to be converted to offices, shops, tourist enterprises and leisure facilities with little prior notification or local consultation. The imminent new national planning policies must ensure that development has local consent and is environmentally sustainable.”

End

Notes to Editors
[1] DEFRA, Government Response to the Farming Regulation Task Force, 21/02/2012

National charity CPRE publishes a new report into the economic and social value of local food to Ledbury just days before a crunch council meeting to decide on a major out-of-town supermarket application.

In the latest of its ‘From field to fork’ reports [1], the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has today published a detailed report into the network of outlets and suppliers that make up Ledbury’s local food economy [2].

Aimed at discovering the social and economic contribution made by local food to Ledbury, the report concludes that local food supports over 680 jobs in and around the town, making a considerable contribution to the local economy and community. The report warns that allowing the construction of a large, out-of-town supermarket would threaten Ledbury’s established local food network.

Download: ‘From field to fork: Ledbury – mapping the local food web’

Thea Platt, Local Food Campaigner for CPRE, says: “It can be difficult to put a number on the value of local food to a community. Many of the businesses involved can be small and the relationships between them complex. With our ‘From field to fork’ reports we have attempted to quantify these networks and show how important they can be to a thriving community.

“As we study these networks we are often finding that, as a whole, they make a huge social, economic and environmental contribution to a town. They are also frequently at the heart of local initiatives and good causes, and bring distinctiveness to their local areas. 

“But we also know these networks are sensitive to disruption and need support to flourish. We have found stronger networks in places with fewer out-of-town retail outlets. These networks do best in places like Ledbury with thriving town centres and a good mix of retail outlets.

“I hope that our Ledbury report can be used by the local council, chamber of commerce and other community leaders to come together to see how they can best support Ledbury’s local food web.”

The report will prove timely for the members of Herefordshire Council’s planning committee who are meeting on Wednesday 22 February to discuss an application by Sainsbury’s to build a 30,000 sq ft retail store and petrol station on Leadon Way on the outskirts of the town.

Thea Platt commented: “Ledbury is one of 19 locations we have been studying as part of our Mapping Local Food Webs project across England. Although the timing of the report is unconnected to this local planning issue, I hope that it proves useful to the committee.”

Key findings from the report:

• Choice, availability and access to local food are good with 25 food outlets selling local food and for a majority of these outlets it represents a quarter or more of turnover;
• Local shops are servicing public demand for fresh, high quality food, supported by short supply chains;
• Local food supports, we estimate, 200 jobs at outlets and over 480 at local suppliers;
• Local food sales in Ledbury are an estimated £1.5 million to £2.7 million a year and help to support £29.5 million of turnover at supply chain businesses;
• A minimum of 95 local producers within 30 miles supply food directly to outlets we interviewed in Ledbury, reducing food miles and related pollution;
• Ledbury maintains its market town heritage and has a thriving high street with a good range of independent shops;
• Residents, visitors and tourists recognise the good availability of local food in the town;
• Local food supports diversity in farming, which shapes and maintains the character of the local countryside;
• Many shops and suppliers contribute to community life by donating to local good causes and offer a friendly, personal service.

End

Notes to Editors
[1] Mapping Local Food Webs is a national project led by CPRE, supported by Sustain, and funded from 2007 to 2012 by the Big Lottery through the Making Local Food Work programme. The project engages people in researching their own local food web in up to three towns and cities in each of the eight English regions. Aided by around 300 volunteers, CPRE has been working with local volunteers to map the food webs around 19 towns and cities across England.  Six pilot study reports were launched in April 2011. We will be reporting on a further 13 locations in several stages over 2012. Today marks the launch of the first of these. http://bit.ly/w4HKG9
[2] CPRE, From field to fork: Ledbury, 19 February 2012, http://www.cpre.org.uk/resources/farming-and-food/local-foods/item/download/1759

A new survey finds well over four out of five British adults (84 per cent) believe that farmers have a responsibility to look after the landscape and wildlife for future generations. [1]

These findings mirror the aspirations of a new, ambitious vision for the future of farming published today by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) [2]. The CPRE farming vision outlines the changes to farming practices and agricultural policy CPRE would like to see by 2026.

The survey has found that fewer than a fifth of British adults (17 per cent) would accept a more industrialised farming sector and an overwhelming 78 per cent of people want farmers to get more support to carry out environmentally sustainable farming practices [3].

These findings provide timely food for thought, given recent calls to increase food production and productivity. Such a move would present challenges for the environmental sustainability of farming. A recent report claimed that the current agricultural practices of European countries, which make intensive use of water, fertiliser and energy, are unlikely to be sustainable in the near future [4]. This demonstrates the need for a fresh debate on how we manage farmland now and in the future.

Ian Woodhurst, Senior Farming Campaigner for CPRE, says: “It’s great to see that people clearly want the environmentally sustainable future for farming set out in our vision. There are huge challenges, including growing populations, increasing demand for land and natural resources, and pressures due to climate change. But we must find ways to cope with these challenges if we are to secure a living, thriving rural landscape.

“We need to be ambitious if we are to ensure we have both a vibrant farming sector and a beautiful countryside alive with wildlife. The Government, farmers, the food industry and environmental organisations will need to work together over the coming years to ensure that the public’s aspirations are realised.”

In its farming vision, CPRE looks to a future when:

• Farmers who adopt new environmental sustainability standards benefit from a price premium that recognises the additional environmental measures they are taking, for example creating wildlife habitats.

• Fairer milk prices for dairy farmers help to reverse the decline in traditional, pasture-based dairy farms, and make them more profitable helping to maintain much loved landscapes.

• There is a massive increase in the number of community-based horticultural enterprises supplying local vegetables, salad and fruit, strengthening local food webs.

• Polytunnels for growing fruit and vegetables have become much less contentious after being brought into a planning system which controls their cumulative impacts on the landscape.

• Most pigs and poultry are free range and reared outdoors, which is what the majority of consumers demand.

• Farmers in upland areas have capitalised on the environmental and cultural services these areas provide by, for example, managing water and soils sustainably and creating beautiful landscapes.

• Nearly all farms in England are producing renewable energy through sensitively designed and located small-scale schemes, such as anaerobic digestion plants which generate energy from farm waste.

Ian Woodhurst concluded “CPRE’s farming vision will guide our work and, we hope, provide inspiration to all those who want to see a future where a profitable farming sector and a beautiful, rich and diverse countryside go hand in hand.”

End

Click here to download CPRE’s Farming Vision

Notes to Editors
[1] This survey was commissioned by CPRE and carried out by ICM research between 13th and 16th December 2011.  ICM interviewed a representative total sample of 2,005 adults in Great Britain aged 18+. Interviews were conducted through the ICM online omnibus. Results are weighted to the population profile of Great Britain. ICM is one of the largest and best known research companies in the UK and a leading research company. For more information please visit: www.icmresearch.com/
[2] CPRE, Vision for the future of farming, 09 January 2012. The vision accompanies CPRE’s 2026 vision for the countryside and aims to take a more focused look at farming and the critical role it plays in managing the rural landscape: http://bit.ly/xmmZwn
[3] see [1]
[4] Scottish Agricultural College for Oxford Farming Conference, Power in Agriculture, 04 January 2012, http://www.ofc.org.uk/news/global-agricultural-power-be-debated-ofc-2012

CAP reforms risk being little more then an exercise in ‘green-washing’ unless UK takes a strong position with EU partners

An influential group of over 25 wildlife and environmental organisations [1] have joined together to persuade the UK Government to take a firm negotiating position with the EU over strengthening environmental provisions in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Campaigners fear that unless the UK takes a strong line on making CAP payments, currently worth over £3 billion per year, do more towards maintaining and improving the natural environment and animal welfare, the current round of reforms will be little more then a ‘green-wash’ for the established status quo.

Abi Bunker, RSPB senior agriculture policy officer and Chair of Wildlife and Countryside Link’s Agriculture Working Group, said: “The Commission's proposals are now out and we're deeply concerned that agri-environment schemes, which reward farmers to do fantastic things for the environment and wildlife on their land, will receive less money in the future.

“This flies in the face of claims that the next CAP will be greener. It is now time for the UK Government, and UK Members of the European Parliament to step up to the mark and make sure such schemes are properly resourced so our farmers get all the support they need to do their bit for nature."

The Joint Links group are launching a new report, ‘Crunch Time for CAP: Choosing the right tools for a richer countryside’, at an event in the House of Commons at 4pm on 8 November 2011. The Rt. Hon Jim Paice MP, Minister for Agriculture and Food will be speaking at the launch to give the Government’s response. The report outlines 10 key outcomes that the Joint Link’s think the UK Government should make the basis of its negotiating position with EU partners.

Ian Woodhurst, Senior Farming Campaigner for CPRE and Vice Chair of Wildlife and Countryside Link’s Agriculture Working Group, says: “The CAP has huge potential to bring about a revolution in the protection and enrichment of Europe’s landscapes. But to make this happen we will need our government to show the political will and a strong commitment to arguing the case in Brussels. Anything less will mean more of the same, poorly directed funding delivering few real benefits for the environment.”  

Notes to Editors
[1]The Joint Links group consists of Wildlife and Countryside Link, Scottish Environment LINK, Northern Ireland Environment Link and Wales Environment Link.

Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link) brings together over 30 voluntary organisations concerned with the conservation and protection of wildlife and the countryside. Our members practise and advocate environmentally sensitive land management, and encourage respect for and enjoyment of natural landscapes and features, the historic and marine environment and biodiversity. Taken together our members have the support of over 8 million people in the UK and manage over 690,000 hectares of land.

Scottish Environment LINK is the forum for Scotland's voluntary environment organisations. Its 36 member bodies represent a wide range of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society.

Wales Environment Link is the umbrella body for environmental and countryside non-governmental organisations in Wales. We are a busy network, active in a range of policy areas and the official link between the Welsh Government and Wales' environmental NGO sector.
Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) is the forum and networking body for organisations interested in the environment of Northern Ireland. NIEL acts to coordinate a strong and coherent voice to policy makers to improve environmental policy and action.

Crunch Time for CAP is supported by the following Joint Links’ members:

Archaeology Scotland
Butterfly Conservation
Bat Conservation Trust
British Mountaineering Council
Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust
Bumblebee Conservation Trust
Campaign to Protect Rural England
Campaign for National Parks
Council for British Archaeology
Froglife
The Grasslands Trust
The Mammal Society
North East Mountain Trust
Plantlife
Ramblers Scotland
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Scottish Campaign for National Parks
Scottish Wildlife Trust
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
The Wildlife Trusts
Wildlife Trust Wales
Woodland Trust
Wye & Usk Foundation
Youth Hostel Association LE

Following the publication of Defra's Interim Response to the Farming Regulation Taskforce [1], which sets out progress to date on many of its recommendations, Ian Woodhurst, CPRE's Senior Farming Campaigner says:

"The Task Force did a thorough job of examining the myriad of regulations that affect farming. We are pleased to see the commitment to reduce the burden of regulation without weakening vital protection for the environment has been maintained. Other Government departments would do well to follow this approach when they examine their own regulatory frameworks."

“We are particularly pleased to see the scourge of fly-tipping being addressed with the Government’s new emphasis on enforcement. A number of our local groups have been working with farmers to identify solutions to fly-tipping on farmland and these measures will be welcomed.

"We need to move on from the mantra that all regulations are bad and recognise that they can often be the fairest and most effective way of delivering the outcomes that are needed."

End

Notes to Editors
[1] Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Farming Regulation Taskforce Interim Response, 03 November 2001

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) fights for a better future for the English countryside. We work locally and nationally to protect, shape and enhance a beautiful, thriving countryside for everyone to value and enjoy. Our 57,000 members are united in their love for England’s landscapes and rural communities, and stand up for the countryside, so it can continue to sustain, enchant and inspire future generations. Founded in 1926, President: Bill Bryson, Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk

CPRE has expressed dismay and concern about proposed changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) announced today (Wednesday) by The European Commission [1].

New eligibility requirements that need to be met by farmers if they are to receive their payments have been added, but these provide little if any additional environmental benefit. More worryingly there is still uncertainty about whether the UK's green farming schemes will receive the money they need to succeed.

Ian Woodhurst, CPRE's Senior Farming Campaigner, says: "We hoped this reform would bring a major shift of EU funding towards rewarding and enabling farmers to do more for the environment [2]. Instead the proposals look like a great leap backward.

“We are particularly concerned that the supposed 'greening' of payments to farmers will achieve little. Additionally there is a continued risk these proposals will lead to our green farming schemes being critically under funded. The very schemes we rely on to improve the quality of our landscapes.

“In the negotiating period to come it is crucial that the Government secure the means to provide farmers with the support they need to deliver real environmental improvements to our countryside."

End

Notes to Editors
[1] The European Commission has published its CAP reform proposals. These include:

Modulation: Member states will be able to transfer 10% of their CAP budget from Pillar I (direct payments to farmers) to Pillar II (environmental and other measures that support rural areas). However, how much funding the UK will receive overall is still unknown, potentially risking a shortfall in funding for our green farming schemes if the rate of modulation proves inadequate.

Greening of direct payments: Around a third of payments to farmers will now be dependent on implementing a range of new environmental measures, growing at least three types of crop, not ploughing up grassland and dedicating 7% of their holding for wildlife and landscape features. However, some of these measures such as providing buffer strips alongside waterways are already required to be eligible for existing payments. In addition some existing requirements have been abolished.

For further information see: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-post-2013/legal-proposals/index_en.htm

[2] CPRE has called for the CAP to become a Europe wide policy focused on rewarding farmers for maintaining, restoring and enhancing the countryside and for the delivery of a wide range of other environmental benefits for the public.

In its latest report, 'The Common Agricultural Policy after 2013', published today (Friday), the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee has highlighted the need for proposals to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to be more ambitious by making the environment a key priority rather than creating a complicated 'greenwash'.

While not supporting all the report's recommendations, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) agrees that the current reform proposals don't go far enough.  We warmly welcome the Committee's call for the CAP's key objectives to include the management and maintenance of Europe's wildlife, landscapes and natural resources.

CPRE believes this should be the primary objective of the CAP, as all our food production depends on a healthy natural environment. In our evidence to the Committee, we urged that the CAP must be radically reformed to reward farmers for all the environmental work they do and pay for the much needed enhancement and restoration of many of our farmed landscapes.  This would make CAP payments fairer, reduce the impacts of market volatility and establish a clear link between public money and provision of environmental public goods.

Ian Woodhurst, CPRE Senior Farming Campaigner, says: "It is essential that CAP reforms focus on improving the quality of our countryside. We need to restore Europe's habitats and landscapes and improve the condition of our soil and water resources.  This will be an enormous task made even more difficult by the challenges of climate change.

“Securing these reforms will be vital to the success of the Government’s broader environment policy ambitions, to be set out in the White Paper on the natural environment expected soon.  If we fail to seize this opportunity we risk further depleting our natural resources, and this in turn will seriously diminish our ability to produce food sustainably."

End

Notes to Editors
[1] The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated bodies. The Committee undertook an inquiry into the European Commission’s proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013 to consider the impact of the proposals on farming in the UK. CPRE made a written submission to the inquiry and appeared before the Committee to give evidence. The report 'The Common Agricultural Policy after 2013', to be published on Friday 15th April, is available on the EFRA Committee website: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/
[2] The European Commission published its CAP reform proposals in November 2010. 'The CAP towards 2020: Meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future', COM(2010)672/5: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-post-2013/communication/com2010-672_en.pdf