UK Regulations

With constantly changing regulations being put in place on UK farms it is getting increasingly difficult to keep on top of them all. If affected by these regulations it is important that you are fully aware of the rules, as failure to comply may result in penalties. This section covers the main areas of legislation affecting a large number of farmers in the UK.

Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE)

There is often talk of the benefits of less-intensive agriculture regarding farm biodiversity, with organic farming practices seen as one of the methods of achieving this. However, with the counter argument of needing to increase food production by 50% over the coming years in order to feed the ever growing world population it is difficult to see how these two objects can both be feasibly met.

A study by the Universities of Leeds and York has shown that farming conventionally and sparing land as ‘nature reserves’ is better for farm biodiversity when the less-intensively farmed (organic) yields fall below nearly 90% of conventional yield. This is due to the knock on effect on the environment elsewhere as a result of land-use change to help supply the same total yield as conventional farming.
These indications help support the ideas behind the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, which is essentially trying to encourage farmers to focus on environmental schemes on farm in order to retain and exceed the environmental benefits seen through set-aside by 2012. This voluntary approach is aimed at negating regulation which would otherwise be forced upon us, resulting in more red tape and expense all round.

As a company, Yara are particularly aware of the need to achieve yield increases alongside environmental benefits and as a result would encourage optimising yield wherever possible whilst placing marginal or difficult to crop areas under voluntary Campaign options.

Reporting can be made via the campaign website at www.cfeonline.org.uk.