Four in 10 farms at risk of closing under new green subsidy scheme, report warns - Telegraph article

[Steevo]

Four in 10 farms at risk of closing under new green subsidy scheme, report warns​

Rollout criticised for being slow, confusing and inadequate

Emma Gatten, Environment Editor23 July 2024 • 6:32pm

Farmers in crop-sprayer study digital tablet data on soil types Credit: MONTY RAKUSEN/DIGITAL VISION

Nearly 40 per cent of farms in England are at risk of closing as new green subsidies are introduced, the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned.
A system being rolled out in the wake of Brexit replaces direct payments based on area with subsidies for farming in a more environmentally friendly way.
But 39 per cent of farms will not be viable after 2028 without “productivity improvements” including greater efficiency or diversifying, according to modelling from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Even with improvements to productivity, some eight per cent of farms will still not be viable after the transition away from direct payments, according to the modelling.
The figures are referenced in a report from the NAO, which warns that grazing livestock farms are at greatest risk in the transition.

Drilling oats on minimum tillage ground instead of ploughing which could lead to erosion, with Dartmoor in the background Credit: LANDSCAPES, SEASCAPES, JEWELLERY & ACTION PHOTOGRAPHER/MOMENT RF

The modelling is based on the 55 per cent of larger farms that account for nearly all food production in England.
The report says that while Defra expects that most farms will be able to improve their productivity, this is uncertain, amid rising global costs of fertiliser and energy, and extreme weather.
Farming groups have criticised the rollout of the new subsidy scheme for being slow, confusing and inadequate.
The National Farmers’ Union said funding needed to increase from £2.4 billion a year to £4 billion to ensure the survival of British farms while meeting the Government’s green goals. It has highlighted the loss of more than 7,000 farming businesses since 2019, and warns that more are at risk.
The NAO said farmers had not been given the advice and support required to make the business changes needed.
It added: “The evidence is inconclusive on whether the scale of change needed will be achieved.
“Farmers need quality advice and support to adapt, but Defra has not yet ensured that they can access what they need.

Solar panels are cleaned Credit: MIKE HARRISON/STONE RF

“Around half of England’s farmers say they are not at all positive about their future in farming.”
Productivity improvements could include diversification such as farm shops, camp sites, or efficiency improvements with new technologies to improve yields.
Daniel Zeichner, the Farming Minister, said the new Labour Government would “restore stability and confidence” among farmers but would not abandon the green subsidy regime brought in under the Conservatives.
He said: “We will optimise schemes and grants in an orderly way, ensuring they produce the right outcomes for all farmers, while delivering food security and nature recovery in a just and equitable way.
“The Government will ensure that our schemes work for those farmers who have been too often ignored – including small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms.”
Martin Lines, the chairman of the Nature Friendly Farming Network said the report showed the need to increase the agricultural budget “in line with the scale of need”.
He said: “We rapidly need to see a clear, long-term vision for the sector which recognises the future of farming depends on a healthy, thriving natural environment.”

Four in 10 farms at risk of closing under new green subsidy scheme, report warns

Rollout criticised for being slow, confusing and inadequate

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Pan mixer]

That sounds realistic, but no one will care much

 

[Steevo]

That sounds realistic, but no one will care much

Pretty much. Article has been out for a week - only 39 comments below. Shows how few people have likely read it compared to some of the bigger articles that get thousands of comments in just the first few hours.

 

[DrWazzock]

Going back to the article, “There are two people in the cab looking at a tablet about soil type.”
I’d ask, is that really helping productivity? There are grants for all sorts of things like that. Does it stack up though? Aren’t we in danger of making farming in the U.K. so expensive thag we just can’t compete globally?
I do often wonder if anybody in DEFRA or even the NFU really understands this business.
Take my favourite gripe, removal of neonic seed dressings from OSR. Everybody says that reintroduction of the seed dressing is off the table. But until it is reintroduced all the holistic this and that, all the IPM as such like is just fluster and bollox. And while we’ve also no price premium across the board in the U.K. for non neonic grown OSR against imports which are grown using neonics then it’s game over for U.K. OSR. But nobody acknowledges this. Everybody has their heads in the sand spinning all sorts of snake oil remedies while the farmer is expected to fork out time and again against the odds. No amount of grants, iPads and precision technology, no increase in the farming budget will get over the sad reality that until neonic seed dressings return, OSR growing is a largely busted flush in this country. I’ve seen the crop damage with my own eyes. I’ve endured the losses but no more. No more will I be the fall guy caught up in the storm of bulls**t and platitudes.
Until neonic seed dressing a return, or until there’s a U.K. grown price premium, or until there’s direct gov support targeted at OSR area it’s game over, well and truly.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Going back to the article, “There are two people in the cab looking at a tablet about soil type.”
I’d ask, is that really helping productivity? There are grants for all sorts of things like that. Does it stack up though? Aren’t we in danger of making farming in the U.K. so expensive thag we just can’t compete globally?
I do often wonder if anybody in DEFRA or even the NFU really understands this business.
Take my favourite gripe, removal of neonic seed dressings from OSR. Everybody says that reintroduction of the seed dressing is off the table. But until it is reintroduced all the holistic this and that, all the IPM as such like is just fluster and bollox. And while we’ve also no price premium across the board in the U.K. for non neonic grown OSR against imports which are grown using neonics then it’s game over for U.K. OSR. But nobody acknowledges this. Everybody has their heads in the sand spinning all sorts of snake oil remedies while the farmer is expected to fork out time and again against the odds. No amount of grants, iPads and precision technology, no increase in the farming budget will get over the sad reality that until neonic seed dressings return, OSR growing is a largely busted flush in this country. I’ve seen the crop damage with my own eyes. I’ve endured the losses but no more. No more will I be the fall guy caught up in the storm of bulls**t and platitudes.
Until neonic seed dressing a return, or until there’s a U.K. grown price premium, or until there’s direct gov support targeted at OSR area it’s game over, well and truly.

You mention the picture, allow me to explain. In the photo the machine is clearly driving itself whilst the two operators are merely commenting on facebook posts to pass the time.

 

[DrWazzock]

Wheat will be the next victim if flufenacet goes, as is being talked about. Dairy is being finished by increases slurry storage requirements.
It’s effing obvious what the problem is.
It’s over regulation and no pragmatism.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Instead of asking for more hand outs the nfu should asking for higher food prices with the correct percentage of that price going to the local primary producer,

 

[ColinV6]

Does anyone else get to the stage they just stop caring. What will be will be and it’s no longer viable just find something else to do.

No point trying to keep up with the endless rule changes in this job much longer.

 

[Wombat]

Instead of asking for more hand outs the nfu should asking for higher food prices with the correct percentage of that price going to the local primary producer,

How does that work for wheat and barley traded as commodities?

 

[Hindsight]

Instead of asking for more hand outs the nfu should asking for higher food prices with the correct percentage of that price going to the primary producer.

Concur with the sentiment BtT but that relies on the trickle down effect and the benevolence of TESCO to pass it down the chain. For much food there are a lot of hands before the farmer supplying the raw material. Just saying. Cheers.

 

[Vader]

Well done Janet and your team...
Destroyed farming, especially livestock.
But guess that was your brief from giv yo help meet net zero...

 

[Ladsdad]

Not easy to sort without government regulation (which I’m not in favour of) but the main problem is the imbalance of power in the food supply chain. Until farmers ALL start working together with a unified voice (very unlikely) then the decline will continue.

 

[farmerm]

I could say I told you so but I won’t waste my time as I’m so terribly excited to renew and get my blue passport, that I wont be able to afford to make use of.

 

[tractorsandcows]

Instead of asking for more hand outs the nfu should asking for higher food prices with the correct percentage of that price going to the local primary producer,

They need to take on processors and supermarkets to achieve that And the Union leadership is in bed with them so that won't happen.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Playing devils advocate but what will happen to the land if this report is true?

 

[Vader]

Playing devils advocate but what will happen to the land if this report is true?

Trees for net zero green washing

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Or taken on by other farmers?

 

[Devil's advocate]

Well done Janet and your team...
Destroyed farming, especially livestock.
But guess that was your brief from giv yo help meet net zero...

It hasn't worked locally huge herds & flocks. Less people I agree but lots of expansion locally, one neighbour has 7,000 ewes, a local farmer milks 900 cows.

 

[Steevo]

It hasn't worked locally huge herds & flocks. Less people I agree but lots of expansion locally, one neighbour has 7,000 ewes, a local farmer milks 900 cows.

And plenty of the public seem to object to that too.

They’ve been sold the lie they can have it both ways.

 

[Vader]

It hasn't worked locally huge herds & flocks. Less people I agree but lots of expansion locally, one neighbour has 7,000 ewes, a local farmer milks 900 cows.

Expanded since sfi...?
Less and less livestock round here.
Trying for 2 years to get someone to graze our grass. No one wants it.
Less hill sheep as low land winter grazing is now bird food.