Farmers across the UK are expressing concerns as thousands of long-standing Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreements are set to expire by December 31st. These agreements, which promote eco-friendly farming practices like insecticide-free farming and creating wildflower strips, are ending as part of a transition to new post-Brexit environmental land management schemes. Many farmers, including Gloucestershire farmer David Barton, are left uncertain about the future. Barton feels abandoned by the government, stating that he was left without a clear direction after the news broke. Some farmers fear that without proper support, their environmental projects, which require significant investment and planning, could collapse, leading to environmental damage. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is calling on the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to extend the CS agreements for at least another year to allow farmers time to adjust to the new systems. Defra, in response, has promised to continue investing in nature-friendly farming but has not yet provided a clear plan for the future. As environmental farming schemes end and the future of the sector remains uncertain, farmers are under increasing pressure to make ends meet, especially with falling crop yields and declining prices.
Original title: Farmers feel abandoned as thousands of contracts cut
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