The Campaign for the Farmed Environment has today unveiled a new online training module that agricultural advisers can use to improve their knowledge of the campaign and voluntary agri-environmental measures available under its auspices.  

CFE is encouraging agricultural advisers, land agents and agronomists to use the training module, developed by campaign partners in NGOs and industry, as part of their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). There module comprises four sections: one for each campaign theme (covering farmland birds, farm wildlife and resource protection) and a general CFE section.

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Each section ends with five questions and users are expected to take 20-30 minutes in total to complete the training. The online module’s focus remains on supporting the campaign, which encourages adoption of certain land management practices to boost biodiversity. BASIS qualified advisers can gain four points by completing the CFE session.  

Mike Warner, chair of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC), who trialled the module, said, “This module is a valuable tool in equipping today’s agricultural advisers with the knowledge to advise their clients on supporting the campaign and managing the environment alongside their farm business. Although the answers are hidden in the text beforehand, the questions are challenging enough to relate back to the field and day-to-day situations.”

The campaign was introduced by the previous government to replace the unpopular set-aside scheme. Although the CFE numbers conservation organisations including the RSPB among its partners, the suggestion that turning over a small amount of farmland to more environmentally conscious management will offset other damaging techniques has been criticised.

Some conservationists have suggested that allowing industry to manage voluntary agri-environment schemes amounts to “letting the fox guard the hen-house.” In May this year, a government review of CFE revealed the scheme had continued to "fall short of expectations"; the scheme’s future will be decided by ministers later this year.

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