
Keep up to date with the latest McCartneys news
Fri 3 April 2020
The new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) is due to replace direct payments and Countryside Stewardship. Once direct payments are phased out by 2028, ELMS will be the main source of alternative funding to BPS and Countryside Stewardship.
The core concept of ELMS is paying farmers and land managers “public money” to deliver environmental “public goods”. Whilst the focus of ELMS is on environmental outcomes, the Agriculture Bill states that when designing schemes, such as ELMS, DEFRA must consider “the need to encourage the production of food by producers in England, and its production by them in an environmentally sustainable way.”
McCartneys Partner Jenny Layton Mills says “the government must recognise that food production will not be sustained unless the payments are encouraging enough for farmers to take up the scheme. We have seen the limited uptake of Mid Tier whole farm schemes and this will be the same unless the options are relevant and encourage suitable environmental options. Therefore, the delivery of environmental “public goods” (or environmental benefits) under ELMS must be able to co-exist with sustainable agricultural production and may indeed enhance agricultural productivity through, for example, improved soil management”
With the removal of direct payments by 2028, a change in mind-set will be needed to recognise that the delivery of environmental “public goods” under ELMS is an essential part of the available toolbox. The main structure to come out so far is the three tier structure which is briefly outlined as follows:
ELMS – A Three Tier Structure
Defra is proposing a three tier structure for ELMS:
What activities could Tier 1 pay for? The ELMS Policy Discussion Document indicates what action may be paid for under Tier 1, which include:-
What activities could Tier 2 pay for? DEFRA again gives examples in the ELMS Discussion Document of the types of actions which could be paid for under Tier 2, which include:-
The types of projects under Tier 3 may include:-
To deliver these the relevant natural capital assets will need to be present, managing eligibility for Tier 3 will be “product specific”, with entry requirements tailored for each project.
McCartneys will be advising clients on BPS, de-linked payment options, present stewardship schemes and ELMS so please contact one of our Rural Offices.
For more information on the above please contact Jenny Layton Mills, Knighton - 01547 528621
Pictured above is the rural team covering the Knighton and surrounding areas. From left to right - Lloyd Humphreys, Tom Carter, Glyn Owens, Jenny Layton Mills & Katies Davies