Government review of ELMS farming subsidies stokes anger

A major overhaul of farm subsidies that reward landowners in England for their environmental work is in doubt after the government signaled a review.

Environmental groups and some farmers worry the government could water down the overhaul, known as environmental land management schemes (ELMS), but the NFU farm union had requested a delay.

ELMS is designed to replace the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP).

A government spokesperson confirmed it was “rapidly reviewing” its plans.

ELMS was the biggest shake-up of farm policy in England for 40 years, introduced after Brexit to replace the EU’s CAP payouts.

Those grants were worth about £3.5bn annually and the majority were paid based on how much land each individual farmer-owned, leading to criticisms that the payments benefited the wealthiest.

News of the review prompted an unusually outspoken statement from the director-general of the National Trust, Hilary McGrady.

“Rather than ramp up action to support our environment, this government appears however to be heading in the opposite direction,” she said.

Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines, who is chairman of the Nature-Friendly Farming Network, which promotes sustainable farming, said that any delay to the ELMS scheme would deny farmers crucial support to adapt to a changing climate.