New analysis reveals that hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland in England are being temporarily repurposed for environmentally friendly projects, driven by new farming subsidies.

Government data analysis indicates that over half a million acres, representing about 2% of all agricultural land in Britain, will be redirected from traditional production. This shift is projected to result in a 3% decrease in crop production, according to consultancy Strutt and Parker as reported in the Telegraph newspaper.

England’s Sustainable Farming Initiative (SFI) offers subsidies to farmers for enhancing wildlife habitats, which often involves setting aside portions of their land.

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Initially, some farmers withdrew up to 80% of their land from production, prompting the government to cap the eligible land at 25% per farm. Currently, only 40% of farmers participate in the SFI scheme, but full enrollment could see up to 5% of farmland taken out of production, noted Jason Beedell, Strutt and Parker’s head of rural research. However, Beedell highlighted that these lands could quickly revert to arable or grassland use if needed.

Balancing production and conservation

Jonathan Armitage, head of farming at Strutt and Parker, acknowledged potential industry concerns over reduced production, especially in light of this year’s challenging weather conditions, which have led to the smallest cereal and oilseed rape areas in Britain in two decades. Nonetheless, Armitage deemed this reduction a ‘necessary trade-off’ for environmental recovery, citing significant declines in wildlife habitats and soil health.

Government-backed research points out that since 1970, nearly 1 in 6 species faces extinction, influenced by farming practices and climate change.

A spokesperson for the environment department contested Strutt and Parker’s figures, asserting that changes to farming subsidies would not compromise food security.

They emphasised the government’s commitment to restoring stability and confidence among farmers, optimising schemes and grants to achieve food security and nature recovery equitably.

Rural concerns on net zero goals

David Exwood, deputy president of the National Farmers Union, stressed the importance of the SFI supporting both food production and environmental conservation.

Amidst ongoing debates on land use for eco-schemes like solar farms, the Countryside Alliance has called for new planning guidelines to ensure that new homes feature solar panels and that solar farms are limited on productive agricultural land. Sarah Lee, head of policy at the Countryside Alliance, emphasised the need to balance national food and energy needs, advocating for sensible placement of solar panels to avoid compromising productive farmland.

The government has highlighted that even under its most ambitious solar targets, panels would occupy less than 1% of the UK’s agricultural land.