Key Facts

• Sir David Amess is chairing a session for oral evidence.
• Witnesses include representatives from Nature Friendly Farming Network, Farmwel, LEAF, and the British Growers Association.
• The session will conclude at 10:30 am on Tuesday 11 February.
• Sir David Amess提醒新议员在进行询问时需声明任何与农业相关的财务利益。
• 尚无明确的立法提案或具体的行动计划。
• Sir David Amess acknowledges ffinlo Costain's comments regarding eligibility criteria.
• Wales plans annual baseline assessments on carbon and biodiversity before farmers can receive public goods payment.
• The focus is on maintaining whole-farm approaches with continuous monitoring of environmental metrics.
• The Bill aims to balance rewarding current practices with incentivizing more green initiatives.
• Upland farmers face significant pressures and need support for delivering public goods and environmental benefits.
• There are concerns about cheaper imports undermining domestic farming standards due to different regulations abroad.
• The evidence session is halfway through.
• Jack Ward mentions that fresh produce imports come from about 90 countries.
• ffinlo Costain stresses the importance of writing standards into the Bill to maintain public and farmer confidence.
• Food security is crucial for national stability and preventing conflicts.
• The Agriculture Bill could be amended to report annually on food security.
• Regenerative agriculture can maintain yield levels without compromising environmental standards.
• NFU aims to reach net zero farming by 2040.
• The Bill lacks a target for net zero commitment.
• Professor Myles Allen's research on accurate methane accounting is cited.
• There is concern about regulatory divergence between the devolved nations.
• The Bill provides Ministers with power to make payments based on environmental improvements.
• The Environment Bill sets requirements for environmental metrics.
• Farmers need clear guidance on transition from current schemes to new ones like ELMS.
• Current farming support funding is £3.1 billion, less than £1 per citizen per week.
• Sir David Amess is chairing a session with five witnesses from different organisations.
• The witnesses include Thomas Lancaster (RSPB), Simon Hall (Livestock Information Ltd), John Cross (Rare Breeds Survival Trust), Christopher Price (Rare Breeds Survival Trust), and David Bowles (RSPCA).
• The session runs until 11:25 am.
• The Agriculture Bill aims to reward high animal welfare outcomes.
• The RSPCA Assured scheme is successful with laying hens but not with sheep, beef, dairy, or chickens.
• The Livestock Information programme will provide multi-species traceability data for better disease control and food safety.
• There are opportunities in the marketplace to evidence welfare standards and provenance through real data.
• The RSPCA views this as the biggest omission in the Bill.
• Last year, the Government tabled an amendment to the Trade Bill addressing import standards.
• Virtually all pork meat and bacon consumed in the UK is imported from the EU.
• The Agriculture Bill includes clauses that provide powers to the Secretary of State.
• Clauses 4 to 6 set out strategic objectives with multi-annual financial plans, setting objectives for them and considering these when setting budgets.
• There is a suggestion to include a duty in the Bill to have an environment and land management scheme.
• Northern Ireland has a multi-species service for cattle, sheep, and pigs.
• Scotland has a traceability service for sheep and pigs.
• Wales has a traceability service for sheep and operates a pig service in-house.
• England operates a GB service for cattle and a pig service for England and Wales.
• DEFRA has asked Livestock Information Ltd to ensure visibility of UK data.
• The business case has been approved, funding is in place, IT systems have been procured, and implementation aims from autumn.
• The new system will have complex objectives compared to CAP's simplicity of paying based on land amount.
• Small farms may profit more from public goods schemes when supported by advice.
• Advice and guidance are crucial for navigating the new subsidy systems.
• Farms producing meat with high welfare standards and low environmental impact could benefit.
• The report was commissioned from independent consultants IEEP.
• There is a one in 200 chance of being inspected by the Environment Agency, with only 40 staff out of 10,600 dedicated to farm inspections.
• Of 10,600 staff at the Environment Agency, only 40 are engaged in farm inspections.
• Farmers face challenges with abattoirs that cannot handle non-standard animals.
• Support for native breeds includes economic, environmental, and social benefits.
• Investment in pop-up or mobile abattoirs is seen as a short-term solution.
• Sir David Amess thanked the witnesses for their time.
• Members may submit additional evidence if they were unable to respond fully to colleagues' questions.
• The Committee will reconvene at Two o'clock.