The NFU has successfully secured a roll over of Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier (CS MT) agreements for thousands of farmers following several months of campaigning. The news was confirmed in a meeting between Defra Secretary of State Emma Reynolds and NFU President Tom Bradshaw on Tuesday 14th October.
The CS MT scheme, which was set to expire at the end of the year, will ensure that over 5,000 farmers will be able to continue delivering environmental benefits for the nation.
NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: “We’re really pleased that Defra has listened and given certainty to so many farmers about the future of their environmental work for the year ahead. It recognises the valuable environmental work they have been delivering for many years.
“This result is a culmination of months of campaigning by the NFU. In reality it means that agreement holders will be able to continue delivering everything from wildflower corridors and habitats for farmland birds to nurturing species-rich grassland.”
Mr. Exwood continued: “To ensure that farmers can continue to undertake these vital environmental projects as part of profitable, resilient businesses, transparency over budgets and timelines for the rollout of the new Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme is key. We will work with Defra on a long-term, strategic plan for all agri-environment schemes.”
