Key Facts

• Norman Fulton is deputy secretary within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland.
• Ivor Ferguson is president of the Ulster Farmers Union with approximately 11,500 members.
• The profitability figure in recent farm income figures for Northern Ireland fell from over £300 million to £290 million.
• At least 50% of what Northern Ireland farmers produce goes to the mainland GB market.
• For beef production in Northern Ireland, returns to farmers are down by £36 million in the last 12 months.
• Agriculture is a devolved matter but the World Trade Organisation requirements for the agreement on agriculture are deemed reserved.
• There will be added costs if GB and Northern Ireland diverge significantly in their future trade policy.
• Very few holdings hit the cap on BPS payments currently, but it could become an issue for large areas needing good management.
• The young farmer payment provides a 25% additional payment to farmers under 40 with less than 90 hectares.
• A level 2 qualification in agriculture is required for young farmers to qualify for the extra payment.
• There are discussions about creating succession plans and incentives like tax benefits for generational renewal on farms.
• Ivor Ferguson advocates for at least annual reviews instead of five-year reviews.
• Graham Stringer announces the committee has finished two minutes early.
• The statement mentions the challenge of transitioning young farmers onto land using contract and share farming arrangements.
• Nick von Westenholz expresses concern about the quick phase-out of direct payments and its impact on food production stability.
• DEFRA is expected to provide further details on schemes to encourage increased productivity in agriculture.
• The complexity of comparing international food production standards is acknowledged.
• Amendments could require the Government to produce a register of UK farming standards and ensure imports meet these standards.
• There are 'may' powers in the Bill regarding government intervention under exceptional market conditions, which should potentially be changed to 'musts'.
• Graham Stringer ends the session at 14:29:00.
• The session moves to a new witness, Richard Self from Co-operatives UK, starting at 15:01:00.
• The UK's market share for farmer co-operatives is about 6%, compared with Germany’s 17%, France’s 55%, and Denmark’s over 60%.
• Co-operatives can help balance out volatile markets, reducing price volatility for primary produce.
• Larger farmers tend to be more professional in their approach to collaboration than smaller farmers.
• The current PO regime is criticised for being litigious and limiting support to marketing co-operatives.
• Data harvesting and use by co-operatives are seen as important for efficient supply chains.
• Existing competition law protections should be maintained or extended to avoid risk and uncertainty for co-operatives.
• A 30% market share provision is deemed sensible but aspirational in certain areas.
• The Bill aims to strengthen the position of primary producers working in a co-operative.
• Co-operative exemptions could be extended for five years.
• The witnesses are Jake Fiennes from Holkham Estate, Jim Egan from Kings Crops, and Graeme Willis from CPRE.
• Graham Stringer mentions poor acoustics in the room during introductions.
• The discussion focuses on the current common agricultural policy and proposed changes as outlined in the Agriculture Bill.
• The current agri-environment schemes have issues that discourage participation.
• There are 65 people on the speaker's books wanting to do modified stewardship schemes.
• A transition period for farmers is set to start in 2021.
• CPRE signed a letter expressing concerns over potential problems with importing food with lower environmental, welfare and health standards.
• An amendment was previously tabled seeking to introduce a requirement for any international trade agreement to comply with UK standards.
• The whole farming sector and NGO environmental sector agree on the need to maintain high standards.
• Jake Fiennes states that game is not part of agriculture.
• Graeme Willis supports ending peatland burning rapidly as a landscape management practice.
• Kerry McCarthy asks about the potential rewards for farmers under ELMS to encourage re-wetting of peatlands.
• The 25-year plan had a £10 million fund for peat restoration.
• Scotland has committed £250 million for peatland restoration.
• County farms could be developed to produce peri-urban horticulture and other wider purposes.
• Jim Egan suggests that each trusted adviser could manage around 40-50 clients.
• It would require approximately 1,500 to 1,800 such advisers in England.
• Existing agronomists and environmental NGO staff may have the capacity for training and accreditation to serve as these advisers.
• Concerns about the lack of constraints on public funds in the Agriculture Bill.
• Suggestion to tie funding to specific investments that improve farm performance.
• Proposal for a mechanism to support new entrants into farming.
• Graham Stringer thanked the witnesses for attending.
• Judicaelle Hammond introduced herself as director of policy and advice at the Country Land and Business Association.
• George Dunn introduced himself as chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association of England and Wales.
• The Bill includes soil quality and sustainable food production considerations.
• Farmers receive basic payment scheme (BPS) payments for environmental, animal welfare, consumer safety contributions.
• There is a need for more detailed information on ELMS transition and payment rates.
• The CLA members expect an average term length of 2.9 years for farm business tenancies.
• Landlords often withhold reasonable consent very frequently according to the CLA's concerns.
• The Bill includes provisions allowing arbitration in disputes, which is seen as unbalanced towards tenants.
• George Dunn believes 90% of farm business tenancies in England are let for periods of five years or less.
• Judicaelle Hammond does not agree that there is a market failure and warns against rushing legislation without considering consequences.
• The TFA agrees more certainty about the future would be beneficial.
• The Agriculture Bill includes provisions on tenant farmer options under clause 13.
• There is a provision for farm business tenancies to give landlords an option to end long-term lets early.
• Schedule 3 proposes technical changes to tenancy law from the TRIG recommendations.
• Graham Stringer thanked the witnesses for their evidence during the afternoon session.