Defra urged to implement a new soil resilience scheme

The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) is urging the government to introduce a one-off “soil improvement and resilience scheme” following disruption to fertiliser markets due to the Iran war.

With input prices driven up, but output values still subdued, and arable farmers having just had their worst year in cash terms since the early 2000s, margins are being severely squeezed.

See also: Growers squeezed as input costs soar while grain prices lag

“This may make it rational for some farmers not to plant crops this autumn for the 2027 harvest – leaving the land fallow instead,” said CAAV secretary and adviser Jeremy Moody.

A reduced cropping area has already been seen in Australia, he added, where early indications suggest 27% of growers have reduced or stopped planting due to uncertainty over the conflict.

Proposal

The CAAV’s proposed scheme would see farmers paid to establish a mixed green legume, which could be used as a cover crop to improve soil structure and fertility, rather than leaving land fallow.

It could be offered as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive with payment set to cover the cost of establishment

“While farmers might decide to leave land fallow, a one-off scheme to establish a mixed green legume manure after harvest could provide a positive purpose for improvement and a single, simple signal of direction with lasting benefits,” said Mr Moody.

“It should be offered to all in June alongside or with the SFI to be a clear practical option in time for planning for the autumn.

“Leaving it to the September SFI window would be too late for greatest effectiveness given the planning requirements of arable farming.”

Government monitoring 

Whether the idea has any appeal to government remains unclear.

So far, Defra has resisted any direct financial assistance to farmers reeling from input cost inflation, saying that it is working with industry to “monitor the situation” and ensure there is no profiteering going on by fuel and fertiliser suppliers.

Asked repeatedly in Parliament to intervene in the interests of supporting food security, senior ministers have consistently said their priority is to facilitate the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, currently subject to blockades by both Iran and the US as part of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.