Therese today hosted a meeting of farmers from across Suffolk Coastal who received presentations from the Rural Payments Agency, Defra and Natural England on the Environmental Land Management Scheme and other grants available to help farmers to be sustainable and productive, for themselves and for the planet.
After leaving the EU, we started the transition to move from a scheme that paid farmers and landowners for how much land they had to one based on supporting the environment and on providing grants to help their farms become more sustainable. In the past, half the money went to just 10% of landowners. This change opens up the opportunity for many more to get involved and it does not stop farming.
There was an informative Q&A where Therese got to hear some of the challenges facing farmers and also some of the positive stories of those taking full advantage of the schemes available some of which were unavailable until she opened them up as Secretary of State. Food production and the protection of our environment remain top priorities and Therese will continue to support our rural communities.
Farmers who are having difficulties with grants or need support should contact Therese's office at [email protected]
