Hill farmers’ anger at ELS system

HILL FARMERS in the north-east of England have claimed that the entry level scheme discriminates against their farming methods.

The scheme options suitable for hill farming are limited, the farmers claim, but one in particular has provoked an angry reaction.

It covers the maintenance of enclosed rough grazing and could prevent farmers from taking supplementary feed out on to the hills in winter time.

This means farmers will not be able to out-winter animals on any land entered into the five-year scheme.

NFU delegate Stoker Frater, who farms in Alnwick, Northumberland, said: “The entry level scheme clearly discriminates against hill farmers in that there are many farmers who are going to struggle to get the points.

“I thought the government wanted to help the upland farmers, who help to maintain the stunning hills and moors, but they are in fact penalising them.

“The main problem lies in the definition of rough grazing. If the land is classed as grassland then the farmers can feed their animals on it in winter time, but if it is classed as rough grazing, then they can’t.

“The RDS needs to make a clear definition.”

But a spokesman for DEFRA said there would be no reappraisal.

“Farmers will not be allowed to supplementary feed on rough grazing land entered into the scheme because if you have a lot of animals standing around in one place eating from a feeder, then you will damage the land,” he said.

“But it must be pointed out that the ELS was developed in consultation with a vast number of stakeholders, including the NFU, CLA and TFA, and that the vast majority of people are happy with it.”