Nuffield Scholar - Chloe Palmer - Regional Director FWAG

The Future for Hill Farming - Summary So Far ...

Nuffield Scholarship (Yorkshire Agricultural Society's scholar, Chloe Palmer)

The Future for Hill Farming - Summary So Far...

Early Conclusions:

• Support for the hill farming industry will be essential in the short tem if rapid, irreversible meltdown in the hill farming sector is to be avoided
• English farmers are operating in a far from level playing field, even at the UK level. English farmers are expected to compete with their Scottish, Welsh and Irish counterparts who can seek funding and support for a wide range of production-orientated infrastructure when these payments are simply are not available in England.
• The ‘ecosystems services' that are provided by hill farming that Government Agencies and conservation groups refer to so frequently have not yet been valued. It is difficult to see how a non-market system could be established that would adequately reward farmers for providing these services.
• Smaller farmers will have to be innovative if they are to survive on more than a subsistence existence; it is unlikely that even the most generous support regimes could guarantee the farming future of some of the smallest holdings
• The trend towards much larger units/holdings is inevitable; there are potential benefits from this in terms of economies of scale and marketing advantage. There will also be negative impacts, particularly in relation to social and community cohesion and possible environmental changes that will not be welcomed by many.
• There are still many successful hill farmers in England.  Most are younger, innovative and ambitious individuals but they are demonstrating that there can be a prosperous future for the industry.  As climate change continues to have an impact on many countries in the world and as developing countries change their food preferences, the upland farms in England will have a key role to play in the provision of high quality food.  These areas that we refer to as ‘severely disadvantaged' may come to be viewed as a crucial part of England's food security strategy.

1.During the Nuffield conference visit to Victoria, Australia in February/March, I was struck by the severe impact that the drought is having on what was once prime agricultural land.  The influence of climate change is likely to continue to adversely affect areas previously viewed as the bread baskets and principal beef producing countries of the world.  As a result, the damp, temperate climate of the English Uplands may appear more favourable than it does at present, especially if we are less able to rely on high volumes of imported meat and grain. The production of beef and lamb from these areas may once again become a crucial part of the agricultural economy and its importance for food production may rank equal in importance to its role as a carbon store, a recreational area and a source of renewable energy.

2.Hill farmers in England have a poor deal with regard to agricultural support when compared to farmers in the other devolved countries in the UK.  Scotland, in particular, has funding frameworks that support hill farmers with capital grants for slurry storage, new buildings and other production- related infrastructure.  This will give England's farming neighbours huge competitive advantages and make their position even more difficult.

3.Farmers in Ireland are still provided with significant amounts of Government support, over and above the income provided by the EU via the Single Payment and the Rural Development Programme (RDP).  In particular, the Irish Government funds a Rural Support Scheme that eases the transition for farmers with uneconomic and small holdings into part-time farming.  In addition to a generous income support payment, farmers also receive training and careers advice.  Early retirement and new entrant support is also provided through the RDP.

4.Support will only ever form part of the solution to secure the future of hill farming.  Many farmers in Ireland are looking at all aspects of their farming business in order to achieve maximum efficiencies and profitability.  Diversification is a common theme and this takes many forms including familiar choice of tourism and farm-based retail but also professional consultancy, landscape contracting, and of course horse breeding, breaking and dealing albeit the latter is considered an agricultural activity in Ireland.

5.Choice of breed is an area where farmers are receiving conflicting messages.  The mainstream market still wants fast maturing, heavier carcases especially for lamb production.  Conversely, conservationists and many Government agencies are encouraging farmers to revert back to traditional breeds, especially for suckler cow production.  Whilst these animals make fantastic conservation grazers, there is still only limited demand for them outside of the premium, ‘local food' ranges. 

6.The issue of lack of demand for light lambs is still not resolved and there are no simple solutions on the horizon.  It is difficult to see how farmers in the most remote and extreme parts of the LFA can reconcile the conflicts between the inherent limitations of their ground and the reality of what the market is prepared to buy.  Traditional hefting arrangements are essential to maintaining the fabric of the fells but only works with traditional breeds that are reared on the hill and are shepherded by knowledgeable, experienced stockmen. 

Send us your view: england@fwag.org.uk