Bob Slater CFE Coordinator Warwickshire &

Worcestershire

14th May 2014

Partnership Working

• NFU -National Farmers Union

• CLA – Country Land and Business Association

• LEAF – Linking Environment And Farming

• AIC – Agricultural Industries Confederation

• GWCT – Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

• AICC – Association of Independent Crop Consultants

• DEFRA - Dept of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs

• NE – Natural England

• EA – Environment Agency

• RSPB – Royal Society for Protection of Birds

• CAAV – Central Association of Agricultural Valuers

• AHDB – Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board

• WLT – The Wildlife Trusts

Core Targets + Messages

• Sign posting best practice in soil management, crop nutrition and pesticide use.

• Helps farmers support the natural environment, whilst farming productively.

• Opportunity to demonstrate ‘green credentials’ to the rest of the industry & general public

• Show leadership & ownership of environmental challenges in planning for the future helping businesses meet the environmental challenges.

What Does CFE Do?

What does this mean?

• Retain what you have & make it work better –ELS expiries

• Also expiring CSS,ESA agreements and Voluntary Measures

• Recognise the importance of the industry initiatives

• Work contributes to Water Framework Directive and Pollinator Strategy

• Part for all to play – farmers and advisers

How does it work?

• County Liaison Groups farmer chaired• Joint Events with Partners – access to a wider

audience• Wider range of topics covered • Demonstrates links between organisations

• Facilitates other initiatives – VI, CSF, Tried & Tested

Partnership Working

Messaging

• “In addition to making Ecological Focus Areas deliver benefits for pollinators, my Department will work closely with farming and environmental organisations on how the Campaign for the Farmed Environment will deliver targets at local level for protecting watercourses, providing habitat for farmland birds, wildlife and pollinators. We will review the success of this at the end of 2015.”

• WRITTEN PARLIAMENTARY STATEMENT (The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs); Implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in England

• Be open minded with regard to CFE – it is an industry led ally not a threat•There is a need for a coordinating body across the whole country to provide a platform for consistent and non-contradictory messages to all farmers promoting voluntary, incentivised & regulatory measures.•Aim to help ease the transition post CAP reforms to help farmers make the most of final agenda.