Plea for farmers to get cash for work on land

Experts are warning of even tougher times for upland farmers ahead due to potential cuts in subsidy payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), prompting calls for the role hill farmers play in maintaining the ecology and environment of the Dales to be recognised.

David Butterworth, chief executive of the park authority, said the whole contribution of Dales farmers needed to be considered in the conservation and enhancement of “this jewel in England’s landscape”.

He said maintaining the areas also helped to control flooding and carbon emissions from peat, as well as preserving wildlife.

He added: “All of this is on top of the value of the wonderful produce that comes from these areas and the extraordinary contribution these landscapes make to the regional economy – 34,000 jobs in the Yorkshire region and £1.8bn of sales are directly dependent on the beauty of the farmed landscapes of the Dales and Moors.

“Surely, this hill farming contribution has to enter the equation when the discussion on CAP reform takes place?

“The Dales might still have its share of down-to-earth, rugged farming folk, but the area itself is fragile, as is its economy – never more so than as a result of the current economic and financial difficulties.”