In the wake of the NFU tenant farmers conference, held last week, farming officials are urging landowners to support farmers interested in taking part in the Campaign for the Farmed Environment. The calls follow the revelation that many tenant farmers felt that they were unable to support the CFE because of restrictions placed upon them by their landlords.

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A survey conducted earlier this year by Defra revealed many tenants did not feel they could support the sceme, but during the Tenants Conference a panel of industry representatives reinforced the message that everyone has a part to play.

When questioned by national CFE coordinator Victoria Hicks, agriculture minister Jim Paice said, “The Campaign for the Farmed Environment is a great opportunity for farmers to show they care about the environment. The bottom line is that the campaign demonstrates what farmers can achieve without regulation.”

Julian Sayers, Chairman of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group focused on the importance of communication between landlords and tenants, “Tenants need to explain effectively what the campaign is and how it can benefit the landlord by supporting it. Landlords should refer to Defra’s code of good practice for agri-environment schemes and diversification projects within agricultural tenancies, he said.”

The CFE is an industry-led scheme which aims to maintain and exceed the environmental benefits provided by former set aside land and avoid the need for future regulation. As part of the CFE, farmers are asked to dedicate three to four per cent of their holding to management practices or to gain least a third of their ELS points from certain options.