Exmoor National Park Authority helps secure additional £2.6 million for farming on Exmoor

Exmoor National Park Authority has been playing a lead role in the South West Uplands Task Force that has helped secure an additional £2.6m for farming on Exmoor.   The task force came together at the beginning of 2008 to coordinate a regional response to the economic plight of hill farming on Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor following an emergency meeting organised by Mel Hall, South West Director of the National Farmers Union in December 2007.  

The meeting had been called in response to serious concerns about the viability of traditional approaches to livestock farming in the uplands of South West due to a decline in public funding; increasing costs of inputs such as fuel, fodder and fertiliser; the static markets for farm produce, and the burden of extra regulation and animal movement restrictions, especially on farms affected by bovine TB.

Dr Nigel Stone, Chief Executive at Exmoor National Park Authority, has chaired the Task Force over the past 10 months which have been marked by a successful regional conference in June, commitment of extra funding targeted at upland farms in the region, and briefings to government ministers and officials.

"The support of regional organisations has been excellent", said Dr Stone. "Effective lobbying by NFU, Country Land & Business Association, South West Uplands Federation and Exmoor and Dartmoor National Park Authorities has helped to raise the profile amongst key government ministers, and regional organisations in charge of farm funding have helped target funds towards the uplands.  This will soon begin to benefit farms and local contractors on Exmoor as Natural England have made available an additional £1.6 million over the next two years for the conservation plans of Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) agreement holders.

"In addition, South West Regional Development Agency is supporting a £1 million programme in each of the three upland areas towards increasing farm profitability by providing grants towards farm business development.  The National Park Authority has been asked to lead in coordinating a programme and will be inviting local farmers to a meeting in November to discuss how Exmoor might make best use of this opportunity".

The Task Force is doing what it can at a regional level but recognises that these new measures, although welcome, are not going to be enough to provide a more secure long term future for livestock farming in the hills.  "The next step for the Task Force is to seek changes at a national level to provide for the long term" said Dr Stone, "so that we get to a position where hill farmers are properly rewarded for the many public benefits that they deliver by increasing our food security and providing a healthy natural environment, wildlife habitats, clean water and the means to help lock up carbon and tackle climate change."

A briefing to Sir Don Curry, agricultural adviser to the Government, took place this week and the national campaign will continue in early November through a parliamentary reception held by Exmoor Society and Dartmoor Preservation Association.