RespectBritish farmers were weaned on to environmental payments by ELS. A simple scheme which gave a little bit of financial incentive to 'leave a bit for nature'.
For arable farmers, the sums are pretty simple. You can just make guesstimates on yields etc and compare to values offered by a scheme.
It is much more difficult for livestock farmers.
What I believe has happened is that the environmental schemes have been successful and reduced productivity. While schemes haven't ever kept up with inflation, they have also been reduced to reflect less income foregone as productivity continues to drop.
All these livestock farmers will now be looking at land with overgrown hedges and in good need of improvement. We are all beginning to realise just what being in these schemes has cost in earning potential.
The current finances on offer make Defra's offers by far the worst option. I expect vast swathes of permanent pasture to undergo major improvements in the coming years or disappear under hardcore.