Countryside Agency, official
Thurs 06 December
IN A keynote speech to the leaders of the British agricultural industry yesterday, the chairman of the Countryside Agency officially confirmed that it was backing long-held demands that farmers should be paid subsidies for the work they do in landscape conservation.
Ewen Cameron |
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Mr Ewen Cameron, who leads the Government-funded agency, told an audience at the Royal Agricultural Society's Agrivision conference in Warwickshire:
"Too much money is being spent subsidising a regime of over production. Farming is important for more than just food production. It is the very foundation of the English landscape which is valued by all who live in or visit the countryside.
"We need a complete move from subsidising over production to investment in the environment and rural development."
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But he added a word of warning: "If the taxpaying public is to be convinced that the countryside is still worth funding, it must see what it is getting for its money.
"Let us be clear - the countryside is worth this investment. But its grants need to be redirected to buy public benefits that people will truly value and on which farmers will get a fair return."
The conference was called to discuss the future of British farming after foot and mouth disease and other food scandals like BSE. The Countryside Agency's backing for environmentally linked subsidies is likely to cause a long and acrimonious debate in the farming world.
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www.countryside.gov.uk |
Tomorrow, Daelnet's countryside commentator, John Sheard, will discuss some of the implications involved in our Week in the Country column.
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