Farming News - Farming Minister visits upland farmers in Dartmoor, Exmoor and Cumbria
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Farming Minister visits upland farmers in Dartmoor, Exmoor and Cumbria
Farming Minister Mark Spencer has been visiting upland farmers in Dartmoor, Exmoor and Cumbria to speak to those living and working in some of England’s most iconic landscapes and hear first-hand about how government can support their communities.
The minister visited tenant farmers on Dartmoor and the Exmoor Hill Farming Network last week, and this week has visited more farmers in the Lyth and Winster valleys in Cumbria and met with those from across the Lake District and Pennines at the J36 Auction Mart on Wednesday.
The visits followed on from a roundtable discussion with upland farmers and representatives from farming organisations in London last month.
Detailed plans for our Environmental Land Management schemes were announced earlier this year, with over 130 actions in all schemes applicable to upland farmers across moorland, grassland and upland peat options.
Upland farmers can also benefit from the new Higher Tier capital offer, which will fund farmers to carry out works to prepare for habitat creation and restoration.
Reflecting on his visits, Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:
“Upland farmers do a brilliant job as the custodians of some of our nation’s most important and iconic landscapes.
“Not only do they produce some of this country’s finest produce, but they do so while looking after terrain that draws tourists from around the world to support local economies and habitats which are critical to wildlife.
“It has been a privilege to hear directly from them about the work that they do, as well as to listen to the challenges they face and where they need support.
“I look forward to continuing to hear from farmers over the coming weeks as we make sure that our improved Environmental Land Management schemes have a compelling offer for every type of farmer to support them to produce food sustainably while protecting and enhancing the environment.”
Defra will also soon be opening another round of applications for the Landscape Recovery scheme. Upland farmers and commoners are already involved in some of the 22 projects receiving funding through the first round of the scheme.
Alongside these schemes, upland farmers who work on national park land, accounting for 74% of all upland areas, may also benefit from the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme which has been extended by another year.