Farmers feel abandoned as thousands of contracts cut
Summary
Thousands of countryside stewardship agreements in the UK will end in December, leaving many farmers unsure about future financial support for environmental projects. These agreements provided payments for nature-friendly farming practices, and their end aligns with a shift towards new post-Brexit environmental land management schemes. The National Farmers' Union is urging the government to extend existing agreements to give farmers more time to transition.Key Facts
- 5,830 Countryside Stewardship agreements will stop in December.
- These agreements gave financial support for nature-friendly farming practices like insecticide-free farming and wildflower strips.
- The UK government is transitioning to new post-Brexit environmental land management schemes.
- Farmers feel uncertain about what will happen after their current agreements end.
- The Sustainable Farming Incentive is the new scheme, but its applications closed in March.
- Farmers are asking the government to extend current agreements for another year.
- The National Farmers' Union has contacted the farming minister to express concerns.
- The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) says it is still investing in nature-friendly farming.
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