NFU 2009: DEFRA to announce ‘set-aside’ plans

Proposals to force farmers in England to set aside land to manage for environmental purposes are set to be unveiled by government today.

DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn is expected to announce plans for the single payment scheme to be linked to environmental management.

In a speech at the NFU conference in Birmingham today, Mr Benn will tell farmers he is ready to consider alternative voluntary approaches to conserve the environmental benefits of set-aside.

The measures could involve a combined voluntary and mandatory approach, but the decision on how the scheme will work will not be fully decided until the summer.

He told the Press Association: “I welcome the idea of the voluntary scheme led by industry, if we can be sure that it will deliver. This would be a real partnership and we stand ready to help.”

• More information from the NFU Conference