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Farm wildlife cash 'could return' | Farm wildlife cash 'could return' |
(10 minutes later) | |
Farmers in England could once again receive payments for leaving uncultivated land to wildlife, the government has said. | |
The European Commission effectively abandoned the compulsory "set-aside" scheme last year for farmers receiving the Single Payment Scheme. | The European Commission effectively abandoned the compulsory "set-aside" scheme last year for farmers receiving the Single Payment Scheme. |
This followed widespread flooding and concerns about high global food prices. | This followed widespread flooding and concerns about high global food prices. |
But Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said he was looking at replacing set-aside with a voluntary scheme. | |
'Very proud' | 'Very proud' |
Environmental groups have raised concern that the lack of uncultivated land deprives birds and other wild creatures of food and refuge. | Environmental groups have raised concern that the lack of uncultivated land deprives birds and other wild creatures of food and refuge. |
Introduced in the early 1990s, the system of paying farmers to set aside land from production was designed to discourage over-production after years in which Europe produced mountains of surplus food and drink, threatening commodity prices. | Introduced in the early 1990s, the system of paying farmers to set aside land from production was designed to discourage over-production after years in which Europe produced mountains of surplus food and drink, threatening commodity prices. |
Mr Benn secured agreement last year from fellow EU ministers that individual countries could pay farmers to restore some set-aside land. | Mr Benn secured agreement last year from fellow EU ministers that individual countries could pay farmers to restore some set-aside land. |
In a speech to the National Farmers' Union in Birmingham, he said: "I'm very proud of what British farming does for our country. Farmers do so much for the environment out of love of the land. | |
"And we're working together to see how we can best retain the advantages of set-aside, while settling on a better approach for farmers. | |
"Set-aside delivered important environmental benefits and over time these benefits will be vital to maintaining levels of production." | "Set-aside delivered important environmental benefits and over time these benefits will be vital to maintaining levels of production." |
The European Commission introduced the set-aside scheme in 1992, stipulating that at least 15% of farmers' land which was not used for growing crops had to be left for wildlife. | The European Commission introduced the set-aside scheme in 1992, stipulating that at least 15% of farmers' land which was not used for growing crops had to be left for wildlife. |
But it announced in July 2007 that it wanted to reduce the requirement to 0% - effectively abolishing the programme. This move was intended to deal with shortages in the EU cereals market. | But it announced in July 2007 that it wanted to reduce the requirement to 0% - effectively abolishing the programme. This move was intended to deal with shortages in the EU cereals market. |
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