Farmers and land owners across England are reminded to renew their Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) agreements as soon as possible.
Natural England has urged businesses benefiting from the subsidy, which on average pays around £4,000 per farm to promote conservation and sustainable land management practices, to reapply for support immediately to ensure a swift transition to the next set of payments.
They warned that any farmers who submit a late application were likely to “suffer a gap in their ELS income”.
Natural England revealed that more than half (52%) of the 2,600 farmers and land owners whose ELS agreement is set to end on 31 July had either missed their 1 June deadline or not yet got round to reapplying.
Robin Tucker, Natural England’s Executive Director for national delivery, said:
“Nine out of ten farmers and land managers with expiring ELS agreements have said they wish to renew, but it looks like some applications will arrive too late for their new agreement to carry on from the old one. It is vital that intentions to renew are turned into early action to apply.
He added:
“Signing up for ELS at the earliest opportunity not only makes sound financial sense, it is also one key to the success of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment and the conservation of our countryside. We urge farmers to send in their applications at least two months before their old agreement expires.”
For further information about the ELS scheme, visit www.naturalengland.org.uk
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