Farmers want post-Brexit payments to support environment, not productivity

“Farmers are key guardians of our environment, and this research shows they know it is vital to our farming future to prioritise fixing the natural resources farms rely on.”

Other findings from the survey highlighted farmers’ struggle with increased costs and falling profit margins, which were affecting 51 per cent of respondents.

Increased weather volatility, such as drought and flooding, was the second most commonly reported problem, hitting 40 per cent of those surveyed.

Brexit uncertainty was cited as the biggest barrier to improving farm businesses, with 41 per cent of farmers struggling to access capital and a further 41 per cent finding it difficult to make changes without knowing what future policy would look like and how much funding would be available.

Productivity

This finding comes just days after the Farmer Network warned Brexit uncertainty and a lack of grants were causing a dip in productivity on farm.

Tom Lancaster, acting head of land use at the RSPB and vice chair of WCL’s agriculture group, said: “This research shows lack of access to funds and uncertainty over the future, particularly around Brexit, are major barriers which are preventing farmers doing more for our natural world.

“Farmers and environment charities are united in wanting certainty over future funding for nature-friendly farming.”