CLA urges South West farmers to reveal their good work

The CLA is urging farmers across the South West to stop hiding their light behind a bush and reveal how they are voluntarily protecting and enhancing the wildlife, soil and water - by completing the annual survey for the Campaign for the Farmed Environment.

The Association says it is vitally important for the farming industry to come forward with the evidence before the CFE initiative is reviewed by the Government.

The CLA is asking all of its members who receive the Survey, which has just been sent to 5,500 randomly selected farmers across England, to make every acre of voluntary management count.

CLA South West surveyor, Graham Clark, said: “Farmers undertake a great deal of voluntary environmental management through agri-environment schemes such as ELS and HLS - but this is usually unpaid and often unrecognised. Unless the industry can demonstrate that existing practices sufficiently benefit the environment, legislation may still be introduced adding further to the burden of red tape already suffocating the industry.

“South West farmers have plenty to be proud of, so please don’t keep your good work to yourself.”

For further information on CFE see http://www.cla.org.uk/Policy_Work/Campaign_for_the_farmed_environment/