Landmark Issue 19 2021 SINGLE PAGES

Evolution, not revolution This is the first time in 50 years that Westminster/England has developed its own system of domestic agricultural support. Coming over two years after the Agricultural Transition period was first announced, the detail in this announcement is a significant step forward. The government has now set out howmuch BPS Direct Payments will be cut each year between 2021 and 2024, and how this released money will be used through new grants and schemes to help agriculture become more productive and prepare for there being no direct subsidies from 2028. There is more detail on what the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme will look like, as well as information on the funding available throughout the transition. Businesses will now be able to plan towards their future, with greater certainty of what lies ahead for England’s agricultural sector. The Agricultural Transition period began on 1 January 2020 and ends in 2027. In introducing the Plan, Secretary of State George Eustice explained that this transition will not be an overnight revolution, rather an evolution from an old system to a new system. This much anticipated Agricultural Transition Plan offers the sector a better indication of what lies ahead, farmers can now budget for 2022-2024 with more certainty and know a little more about future schemes which to date have existed in name only. However, it is not the end of the story, there is a lot of detail yet to be decided and shared, and big questions still to be demystified in how the plethora of policy facing the rural sector will interact to achieve the goals government has committed to. Defra has committed to multiple consultations on the detail behind schemes, so their final form can still be shaped by the farming industry. The upcoming consultations will cover support for new entrants, animal welfare, slurry, delinked payments, lump sum exit scheme, pesticides, dairy contracts, and producer organisations. It is important to remember that anticipated income under ELMwill have a similar profit margin as Countryside Stewardship; it should not be treated as a successor to BPS income within farm budgets. In spite of all of the dramatic changes that the Agriculture Act signals, it seems that there is no shortage of new entrants wanting to get into farming. The challenges ahead are not insurmountable, but they will require entrepreneurial thinking and bravery. 30 LANDMARK INDUSTRY & LEADERSHIP EmilyNorton, Head of Rural Research, Savills