The Rural Bulletin: 21st February, 2019

Andrew Shirley, Head of Rural Research, comments:

On the face of it reintroducing lost species like the white-tailed sea eagle sounds a good idea from a conservation and tourism perspective. But such efficient predators could pose issues for livestock farmers.

Conflicts of interest like this are likely to become more common as the pressure from rewilding advocates to bring back beavers, wolves and other species mounts.

It should not be beyond the whit of DEFRA to be able to create schemes that compensate farmers affected by such reintroductions and allow them to control the newcomers where needed so wildlife and agriculture can co-exist.

TFA call on Gove to commit to bridging payments

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has urged Michael Gove, Defra secretary, to look at the bigger picture when assembling farm support payments. 

Mr Gove pledged at the NFU’s conference this week that bridged payments will be made to claimants who have not received their 2018 Countryside Stewardship payments by the end of March.

“The Secretary of State must recognise there are thousands of farmers who have yet to receive any form of support payments for 2018,” said Lynette Steel, farm policy adviser at TFA. 

“Whether that be for BPS, Countryside Stewardship, or Environmental Stewardship. For Mr Gove to announce bridging payments for only one of these groups is only adding to the frustration that is facing farmers.”

Concerns over Natural England’s proposed eagle release

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is challenging Natural England’s proposals to release white-tailed sea eagles on the Isle of Wight, prompted by concerns from their members. 

Members raised the issue that if the birds were introduced, they would prey on sheep and therefore could affect the livelihoods of farmers and small scale businesses.

“The idea of releasing these large predators into our environment may sound very appealing – but as any livestock farmer will tell you, you don’t buy a batch of animals without first being confident you have the right conditions for them and you can feed them. It would be completely irresponsible to do so otherwise,” said Phil Stocker, chief executive of the NSA. 

Over 20% of Staffordshire County Council farms for sale

Staffordshire County Council have 688ha and 16 let farm holdings set to be sold to invest in health, care and infrastructure in the county as well as back into the farms estate, as by reported by Farmers Weekly.

The sale of the peripheral, smaller and less easy to modernise parts of the estate could generate up to £20m. The affected tenants were notified in autumn 2018 and now have the opportunity to buy their farms. If they choose not to buy, the land will be sold with them staying as sitting tenants.

Somerset farmers to bid for funding for flood prevention

FWAG South West, the Environment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming have launched the Natural Flood Management (NFM) Auction – an online tool which you can use to tender for funding of flood protection measures on your farm. 

The measures include; maize management, grassland subsoiling, leaky dams, hedge planting and soil bunds. The auction opens on 26 February and runs until the 12 March. 

Defra and Scottish government debate with NFU Scotland

Discussions around contingency plans for if the UK does come crashing out of Europe have been discussed by Michael Gove and Fergus Ewing at an NFU Scotland members meeting.

They particularly highlighted the impact the loss of migrant labour could have on all sectors of Scottish agriculture when the UK leaves the EU. 

Mr Ewing told NFU Scotland members that the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS), which will see 2,500 visas issued for workers to come into the UK was inadequate. 

“The final date for Brexit is getting closer and closer every day and we do not have a solid deal signed off by everyone involved,” said Andrew McCornick, NFU Scotland president.” Scotland’s farmers and crofters need robust contingency measures put in place for a ‘no-deal’.” 

How can we help? Knight Frank's Rural Property Management team is on hand to advise on a wide range of private and institutional clients on the hugely diverse property assets that they own.