MPs unite to support upland farming

The Countryside Alliance has worked with a cross party group of MPs to help table an amendment to the Agriculture Bill to support upland farming post Brexit.

The amendment would allow financial assistance under a new agricultural policy to be provided for the purpose of "supporting upland landscapes and communities" alongside other purposes set out in the Bill, which include rewarding farmers who protect or improve the environment and support public access.

The Agriculture Bill provides the framework for a new agricultural policy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland outside the EU. The Government has confirmed that it will move away from direct income support in favour of payments for certain types of environmental/public goods along with providing funds to support productivity. The Countryside Alliance has argued that supporting upland landscapes and communities is a public good and should be included in the Bill.

The amendment has been tabled by Helen Goodman MP, whose constituency of Bishop Auckland includes 400 sheep farmers, most of whom are in upland areas. It has support from MPs across the House of Commons, including former Conservative minister, Sir Nicholas Soames MP, and former Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron MP.

The amendment will be considered when the Bill returns to the House of Commons for its final stages before going to the House of Lords. No date for this has yet been set.

Helen Goodman MP commented: "Upland farmers face a unique set of challenges as we leave the EU. It is vital that the public good they provide is recognised in the Agriculture Bill so that they are properly supported in any new policies. Upland landscapes, such as those in Teesdale, are fragile environments where farming is extremely marginal. This type of farming needs specific policies to ensure these landscapes and the communities they support can survive."

"A switch to payment for public goods is fine in theory, but it will only be fine in practice if the amount of money paid is sufficient to keep farmers in business."

Countryside Alliance Political Relations Manager, James Somerville-Meikle, commented: "This is a hugely important amendment and we hope the Government will consider it carefully when the Bill returns to the Commons. The fact that it has the support of so many MPs from different parties and parts of the country shows that supporting upland landscapes and communities is a cross-party issue.

"The current EU Common Agricultural Policy includes specific payments for moorland and disadvantaged areas and this must continue to be possible under a new agricultural policy outside the EU. We believe the only way this can be guaranteed is by having this provision written into the legislation."

Notes to editors:

• The latest marshalled list of amendments to the Bill can be found here (amendment 29, p. 9).
• The Bill as amended by the Public Bill Committee can be found here
• The Countryside Alliance note on the amendment can be found here