Farm environment's anniversary success

The remarks were made by farming minister Jim Paice on the first anniversary of the launch of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE), an industry led approach to ensuring wildlife and biodiversity on British farms.

Some 12 months after the launch of the groundbreaking initiative the CFE has been praised as a success, with thousands of farmers across the country having signed up.

The CFE was developed to avoid the threat of compulsory regulation from Government, which would have involved every farmer in Britain having to meet centralised targets or face the withdrawal or curtailing of their subsidy payments.

Mr Paice said that the programme had made "steady" progress since its launch but said there was still much work to be done.

The CFE has been organised jointly by such bodies as the National Farmers Union and Country Land and Business Association. Through local events and focused promotional materials to advise farmers and land managers, farmers have become increasingly willing to do their bit to avoid the introduction of a compulsory approach.

Mr Paice said: "The campaign has been making steady progress and the fact that farmers are volunteering to look after our biodiversity and natural resources is a great example of the Big Society at work.

"Progress has been made but we need to see farmers going further. The key priority for the campaign over the next 12 months will be to ensure as many farmers as possible renew their ELS agreements, and carry out at least one voluntary measure to benefit the environment."

The CFE's own annual report seemed to echo Mr Paice's remarks, saying the vital need was for all farmers and land owners to turn enthusiasm for the campaign into actions.

CFE bosses are now putting out a strong call to ask all farmers and land managers to put their good intentions into practice during this harvest and autumn cultivation period.

They say that the harvest and autumn cultivation period provides a great opportunity to create new environmental features on farm.

Voluntary measures can be as simple as including grass buffer strips next to streams and other water courses, sowing beneficial wildflowers and leaving cereal stubbles over the winter.

Such measures attract wildlife, particularly farmland birds onto the land.

The Entry Level Stewardship scheme pays farmers for encouraging wildlife, as well as actively protecting the quality of the farm's soil and water courses.

To find out more about the campaign and to download a copy of the annual report visit www.cfeonline.org.uk

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