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The comments come as a group of environmental organisations launch the 'State of Nature' report today (May 22), suggesting that 60 per cent of species studied in the report have declined over recent years.

Farmers support for initiatives such as the industry-led voluntary Campaign for the Farmed Environment and Defra's stewardship schemes provide an extremely positive basis in which wildlife can thrive. Farmers are also managing their environmental footprint, for example we've reduced pesticide pollution by up to a third in sensitive water catchment and greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have declined by 19 per cent since 1990.

NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: "No farmer will welcome news that wildlife populations are deteriorating. Indeed, many farmers and visitors to the countryside will be surprised about the report's findings given the huge effort farmers now place on managing the environment.

"For example our work with the RSPB and other conservation bodies on the Campaign for the Farmed Environment has brought over 200,000 hectares of land into positive conservation management since 2009. This in addition to over 50,000 agreements farmers have in the Government's environmental stewardship.

"The State of Nature reports that wildlife populations have changed significantly over the last 50 years. But no area of our economy or society has stood still over this same time period, and farming and the countryside are no different. Urbanisation, climate change and changing land use have all had their impact as the report argues. The challenge the report offers is to find ways in which farming can continue to produce high quality British food, be a positive force in the countryside and support the nation's wildlife."