Kendall’s call for environmental cuts will let down farmers
The RSPB has responded to Peter Kendall’s speech at the NFU Conference in Birmingham today, by highlighting the need for support for wildlife friendly farmers.
The RSPB has responded to Peter Kendall’s speech at the NFU Conference in Birmingham today, by highlighting the need for support for wildlife friendly farmers.
Martin Harper, RSPB Conservation Director, said: “Mr Kendall says that farmers can do more for the environment than regulation.
“He is right about farmers being able to do a huge amount for the environment. But the message that we have heard over and over again from farmers who are doing their bit for wildlife is that they need support to do so.
“Any axe to the funding of agri-environment schemes will remove support from the very farmers who can deliver the most for the environment. Experience with the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, which urges farmers to manage their land to benefit wildlife, shows that unless environmental measures are backed by publicly funded advice and conservation grants they are only taken up by the committed few.
“Owen Paterson understands this very well and is right to stand firm on the issue of voluntary modulation. He must be congratulated for looking at the needs of farmers, the environment and consumers in the round and pushing for the fairest deal for all.
“It is right in periods of austerity to make sure that public expenditure works hard and delivers the most it possibly can.”
