NFU England reconsiders direct payments policy

ENGLAND’S National Farmers Union has called for a halt to the planned phase out of direct payments, as Defra reconsiders its flagship Environment Land Management Scheme (ELMs).

ENFU president, Minette Batters, said: “My absolute priority is ensuring that farmers can continue to produce the nation’s food – so I do support maintaining direct payments in order to build a scheme that really will deliver for food production and the environment.

“We’re pleased the government is reviewing the framework for future farming schemes to help ensure farm businesses are supported through the current economic challenges and can make progressive decisions to boost growth and farming’s contribution to the nation.

“The NFU has always supported the ‘public money for public goods’ policy but we have called for a delay as the scheme was not fitfor-purpose and ready to roll out in its current form,” said Ms Batters. “I hope this review works in partnership with farmers to develop a framework that enables farmers to produce food for the nation and enhance our environment.”

The union argued that the rising cost of farming is making direct payments more important to farmers who are struggling to cover this year’s bigger invoices.

NFU analysis has shown that the timeline for phasing out direct payments by 2028 will impact the profitability of farm businesses. Mediumperforming farm businesses, on average, would see a 14% reduction in profitability in 2022 with profit reducing 25% by 2023 and over a third (35%) by 2024.

As Defra policy stands, English farmers will have direct payments entirely phased out by 2028.