Farmers urged to renew ELS agreements to avoid missing out
23 June 2010
Natural England is urging farmers with expiring Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) agreements to renew as soon as possible in order to avoid a gap between agreements.
Agreement holders receive on average £4,000 a year through ELS schemes – more than £330 a month – and those who submit late applications are likely to suffer a gap in their ELS income.
Although large numbers have already renewed, around 2,600 (52%) farmers and land managers whose ELS agreements are due to expire on July 31 either submitted their renewal applications after the June 1 deadline or have still to return them. Natural England is working hard to give as many of the late applicants as possible a start date of August 1 for their new agreements, but there will inevitably be some whose new agreements will not begin until September 1 at the earliest.
Robin Tucker, Natural England’s Executive Director for National Delivery, said: “Nine out of ten farmers and land managers with expiring ELS agreements have said they wish to renew, but it looks like some applications will arrive too late for their new agreement to carry on from the old one. It is vital that intentions to renew are turned into early action to apply.
“Signing up for ELS at the earliest opportunity not only makes sound financial sense, it is also one key to the success of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment and the conservation of our countryside. We urge farmers to send in their applications at least two months before their old agreement expires.”
Hill farmers with expiring ELS agreements should consider joining Uplands ELS, which has payment rates up to £62 per hectare. Information is available to help applicants choose which of the options would best suit their farms and provide the greatest benefits for wildlife, landscape, historic sites and water and soil. Information and advice on joining Uplands ELS is also available from Natural England through one-to-one visits, farm walks and other events.
For further information on ELS, Uplands ELS and the advice, training and events available in your area, contact your local Natural England office, or call the events team on 0300 060 1695 or visit www.naturalengland.org.uk/es
Deadlines and start dates for ELS applications are as follows:
-ends-
Notes to editors:
2010 is the fifth anniversary of the start of ELS and around 12,000 agreements are due for renewal this year – worth a total of more than £200 million. In a recent survey of these agreement holders 90% said they intended to renew.
| Old Agreement expiry date 2010 | Application deadline | New Agreement start date |
|---|---|---|
| 31 August | 1 July | 1 September |
| 31 September | 1 August | 1 October |
| 30 October | 1 September | 1 November |
Natural England and the industry-led Campaign for the Farmed Environment share a target of bringing 70% of farmland within an agri-environment scheme by March 2011. The current figure is around 68% and rising.
Farmers wishing to renew their agreements can obtain an application pack by contacting their regional Natural England office or renew using the quick and efficient ELS Online service at www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/funding/es/els/online .
Natural England has produced three leaflets offering advice to hill farmers on the best options to choose and where to locate them to achieve the best results. The titles are: Farming in the uplands for wildlife; Farming in the uplands for landscape and the historic environment; and Farming in for the uplands for cleaner water and healthier soil. They are available to download and will also be available from Natural England advisers at upland farm events and visits.
About Natural England
Natural England is the government’s independent adviser on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.
We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation.
We run Environmental Stewardship and other green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.
We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.
We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.
For further information (media only) contact:
Graham Tibbetts in the National Press Office on 0300 060 2617, graham.tibbetts@naturalengland.org.uk or out of hours 07810 636344.
For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk
Graham Tibbetts Senior press officer Natural England Ashdown House 123 Victoria Street London SW1E 6DE Tel: 0300 060 2617 Mob: 07810 636344 www.naturalengland.org.uk
We are here to secure a healthy natural environment for people to enjoy, where wildlife is protected and England’s traditional landscapes are safeguarded for future generations. In an effort to reduce Natural England's carbon footprint, I will, wherever possible, avoid travelling to meetings and instead participate via audio, video or web conferencing.
