Final big push needed for CFE to meet target

Latest figures for the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) show a slight increase in uptake of key target options, but more work is needed to meet targets aimed at staving off a return to compulsory set-aside.

New figures from Natural England reveal a 37% increase in CFE target options in Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) since the campaign began, but the campaign looks short of its target.

Out of 41,770 live ELS agreements, 11,767 contain options under CFE – the highest ratio of CFE options included in ELS agreements since the campaign began in July 2009.

This figure equates to 54,393ha of farmland nationally in England under key CFE/ELS options, said CFE national programme coordinator Victoria Hicks – equivalent to a 37% increase in CFE target options in ELS since the start of the campaign.

“In March, we have increased our area by about 700ha and in February by 800ha,” said Ms Hicks. “It is positive to see that farmers who are continuing with their ELS schemes are adding CFE options.”

Clare Collyer, conservation adviser at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), added: “We have now got nearly 55,000ha in key target options, which is a great credit to all the farmers and land managers out there who have got behind the campaign.”

The voluntary CFE scheme must gain enough support to fend off the threat of a return to a compulsory set-aside scheme in England. It aims to double the area of land in ELS key target options to 79,342ha by June 2012.

Although the latest figures are still some 25,000ha short of the June target, Ms Hicks said farmers should “feel proud of their achievements”.

The most popular ELS option that contributes to CFE is field corner management (EF1), which now includes 22,500ha of farmland.

In addition, there are 19,766 skylark plots (EF8), wild bird seed mixes (EF2) covering an area of 5,281ha and extended winter stubbles (EF22) covering 4,796ha.

“Farmers can square up fields if they have got awkward corners and dedicate them to field corner management options,” said Ms Hicks.

“Skylark plots, which have been shown to increase skylark chicks by 50%, are also popular, as they pay £5 a plot but only cover 16sq m.”

The third and final CFE monitoring survey was sent to 5,500 farmers and land managers in February, but so far only 52% have sent in responses.

“We need more responses to get the information about what farmers are doing voluntarily on their land, both in and outside of CFE,” said Ms Hicks.

The final survey is a crucial set of data, because it could decide the future of the campaign, she added.

DEFRA, Natural England, the CLA, the NFU, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) and the RSPB are involved in ongoing discussions about the future of CFE.

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