Comment

The NFU says it is concerned that premature changes to Environmental Stewardship (ES) schemes risk making them increasingly complex and could reduce the opportunities for more farmers to get involved.

The organisation's comments follow the publication by Defra and Natural England of its Environmental Stewardship Review of Progress, which reports agri-environment schemes now cover more than five million hectares in England and have brought "real benefit to the countryside".

NFU President Peter Kendall said: "The Entry Level Scheme has been in place for little over two years and is already making a recognised contribution to protecting the environment, yet this review contains a staggering 200 recommendations for tweaks and changes.

"We would argue that so many changes, so early on, and the narrowing of entry criteria, by making some options more demanding, will challenge the fundamental aim of making this flagship scheme attractive and open to more and more farmers.

"In particular, given the loss of the popular Management Plan options as part of changes to the new Rural Development Plan for England at the end of last year, some farmers and landowners will definitely struggle to find options that will fit their farming system and landscape.

"This is a crucial time for the success of ES and it is imperative, both from an economical and ecological view point, that farmers and landowners can enter the Entry Level Scheme."

Commenting further on the review report, the NFU said it was pleased to see that the management for some of the options within ES will be modified to make them more practical and some new options will be added to the menu.

Mr Kendall added: "We are pleased to see that the comments made by the NFU about the complexity of the Farm Environment Plan within the Higher Level Scheme have been taken on board and that a simplified version will be developed. There is also a commitment to now look at opportunities for limited capital works within ELS."

However, the NFU is particularly disappointed that despite its strong representations on the practical constraints of further extending the no-cut period for hedges, this recommendation has been given approval.

Some changes to the schemes will be introduced as early as this autumn - affecting new entrants - while the longer-term strategic changes, including ideas to develop the incorporation of advice into ELS, ELS Capital Works and the possibility of Split Lists of ELS Options will not come in until 2010.

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