The letter, sent ahead of the Chancellor's Spending Review, follows reports that Defra sources have confirmed the department will see its nature-friendly farming budget cut.
鈥淭here is universal support across the farming industry, as well as from wildlife and environmental groups, that progress under ELMs has been successful and must not be halted now,鈥� said signatory to the letter, NFU Deputy President David Exwood.
鈥楶ayments made under ELMs are not subsidies,鈥� the letter states. 鈥楾hey are a contract where government purchases land management interventions which clean up water, enhance biodiversity, produce sustainable food and timber, create spaces for people to enjoy, and combat climate change.鈥�
鈥�The impacts would be monumental for the future of nature-friendly farming and on farmers' ability to deliver key environmental targets.鈥�
NFU Deputy President David Exwood
With 77,000 live agri-environment scheme agreements, the oldest of which have run for decades, the 鈥榰nprecedented engagement in the SFI is testament to the appetite farmers and land managers to rise to the challenge and do more鈥�, leaders write.聽
Any reduction to the available budget for funding existing and new ELM schemes will be 鈥榗atastrophic the government鈥檚 aims鈥� they warn.聽
A poor legacy for government
On sending the letter NFU Deputy President David Exwood said 鈥渢he Minister can be in absolutely no doubt reading this letter of the deep concerns being shown right across our industry鈥�.
鈥淭he impacts would be monumental for the future of nature-friendly farming and on farmers' ability to deliver key environmental targets.
鈥淎s we outline in the letter, the ELM scheme is crucial in helping farms of all sizes deliver environmental goods such as boosting nature, creating habitats for wildlife, and improving soil health and river quality, all alongside producing sustainable and affordable food.
鈥淎ny cut in funding is a sign that this government has given up on the environment.鈥�
The letter concludes that many of the environmental features in the countryside enjoyed by the public would be under threat and will disappear.
鈥楾his would be a poor legacy for government,鈥� leaders write.聽
The Spending Review is due to be announced on 11 June and will confirm all departmental finances for 2027-2030. Cuts are expected, but the details are yet to be made public.
皇家华人will be delivering its analysis following the announcement. You can continue to track our lobbying work ahead of the Spending Review via our timeline.
Signatories on the letter include:
- David Exwood, Deputy President, National Farmers Union
- Victoria Vyvyan, President, Country Land and Business Association
- Robert Martin, National Chair, Tenant Farmers Association
- Beccy Speight, Chief Executive Officer, RSPB
- Harry Bowell, Director of Land and Nature, National Trust
- Nick Von Westenholz, Chief Executive Officer, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
- Martin Lines, Chief Executive Officer, Nature Friendly Farming Network
- Jeremy Moody, Secretary and Adviser, Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
- Helen Browning OBE, Chief Executive, Soil Association
- Robbie Tuer, Chair, National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs
- Wendy Jenkins, Chair, British Institute of Agricultural Consultants
- Robert Sheasby, Chief Executive, Agricultural Industries Confederation
