"A really informative" evening of presentations, questions, answers, and discussions helped 65 guests to clarify at least some of the concerns and problems farmers are experiencing in getting to grips with evolving agricultural policy.

 Farmers and Landowners responded to the invitation from H&H Land & Estates to share a pie and pea supper at the Auctioneer, Carlisle, on Thursday 16^th March, and to explore the complicated web of policy, support and grants farmers must navigate to survive and thrive.

 The feedback from a "thoroughly enjoyable evening" was that the H&H Land & Estates team had "manged to get over a lot of information and topics in a short space of time but in a way that was understandable".

 "We were delighted that so many farmers found the evening useful," says H&H Associate and Head of Environment and Forestry Team, Tracey Jackson, who hosted the event. "We tried to keep it short and simple, but it still needed seven presentations to cover all the information that farmers need to know. It was great to see so many farmers considering the opportunities available through government grants and schemes. We had to field many astute questions and they sparked some excellent discussions over supper."

 The evening also helped highlighted some of the main concerns among farmers struggling to adapt to the reduction in BPS payments and shift government focused policy of public money for public goods and services.

 "A major concern for many farmers is the scale of land potentially required for Nutrient Neutrality and the forthcoming Biodiversity Net Gain. This could become a controversial matter with the conflict in land for food production verses mitigation for development. It's a rapidly evolving area and needs to be treated with caution."

 The Environment and Forestry team at H&H Land & Estates are looking at potential solutions and some shorter-term resolutions for Nutrient Neutrality, in a bid to find a balanced way forward that meets the needs of everyone. 

 For one older farmer, the new farming policy with its new grants and subsidies is simply the latest evolution in one of the oldest industries of all.

 "I have farmed since the late 1960's and life on a farm has changed so much over those years. There are clearly many more changes ahead and it can be difficult to keep up, but this was a very interesting evening indeed, and it helped enormously."