Summer 2019

FieldfareThe RSPB’s land use policy newsletter

Farming into • Chemical cocktails and action on pesticides • The cost of sustainable land management the future • Understanding farmers’ choices Welcome Romrodphoto (shutterstock.com) Romrodphoto

Optimism for the future of farming. Reflections, transitions and motivations This will be my last introduction to Fieldfare, as I step down from my role this autumn.

Reflecting on the changes I have seen also need to be smarter in the social science to understand what in these pages, I am heartened by the regulation of pesticide use, with more motivates farmers to engage in growing acceptance of the need to support given to farmers for genuine wildlife-friendly management, and manage our land better and differently. Integrated pest management (IPM). sharing this with government and There is growing discussion (see others. This is outlined on page 6, page 7) on how our land is best used Many in the farming industry are and we set out on page 11 how we and how policies can be better leading the way to reduce pesticide are working with others to support co-ordinated across food and farming, use, and the RSPB is working with the transition to more sustainable to deliver a more coherent system farmers more closely than ever to and healthy diets. This is not an easy which benefits people and nature. advocate for nature-friendly farming conversation – but it is a crucial one, The article on Nature Friendly if we are to meet the challenging Transitioning to a nature-friendly Farmers Network (NFFN) meeting at greenhouse gas emission targets and food and farming system remains Stormont is a clear demonstration of make space for nature. one of the biggest challenges of our the commitment of these farmers. time. Several of the articles in this The results they can deliver are crucial edition focus on what this means in making the case for investment for pesticides. This is a matter of into farming. On page 5, you can enormous public interest, and one read how important it is to invest Mike Clarke, Chief Executive

where signals from Government sufficient budget to achieve our land Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com) are mixed. Whilst we have management priorities. welcomed the restrictions placed on neonicotinoids and metaldehyde, we At a time of considerable uncertainty, remain seriously concerned that the it is essential that everyone is engaged Withdrawal Act Statutory Instruments effectively in shaping a brighter food may weaken the oversight, scrutiny and farming future, and in how people and scientific expertise applied to can shift to eating better and more pesticide use. A future approvals healthily so that food is part of the system must better assess the solutions that are needed. To help, potential harm of pesticides. We we are undertaking ground- breaking

2 Fieldfare Summer 2019 Research news Paul Coast Project). Dunn (Glamorgan Heritage

Choughs regularly feed on insects found in dung. Chemical cocktails found in the countryside The number of insects in animal dung is falling as a result of the use of common livestock treatments, with knock-on effects for birds.

The RSPB’s Conservation Science looking into the availability of food The scientific paper about this team have discovered that some for choughs. research can be found at: nature. commonly used livestock veterinary com/articles/s41598-019-40800-6 treatments, not widely known to be Choughs are charismatic birds with harmful to dung insects, significantly distinctive red beaks and feet. They are reduced their numbers. This has adapted to extracting soil insects, but For more widespread implications for dung regularly feed directly on dung insects. information insect communities and the species These birds are closely associated with contact Gillian Gilbert: that feed on them. livestock grazed pasture along the west [email protected] coast of the UK and the Isle of Man. This discovery (recently published, Gilbert et al. 2019) was made through Choughs are well-loved by the farming field-scale experiments on the RSPB’s community and we will be seeking livestock farms on Islay, Scotland. stronger evidence and advice on the The findings were as a result of work environmental effects of a wider range being carried out as part of a project of livestock health treatments.

Fieldfare Summer 2019 3 Feature The RSPB resigns from pesticide group In April, the RSPB resigned from the Voluntary Initiative – an industry-led, multi-stakeholder group to promote responsible pesticide use – as well as the Government’s Pesticides forum.

For more than 20 years the RSPB So what does the RSPB want to pesticide use on human health, has participated in the Voluntary do instead? Well we are definitely the environment and wildlife. Initiative (VI). However, in April, the not turning our back on this issue. RSPB and Pesticides Action Network Evidence of the dramatic impacts that In addition, as the UK leaves the UK resigned from this and the pesticides have on the environment EU, it is important that there should Government’s Pesticides Forum (PF). and wildlife continues to mount, and not be any weakening of pesticide the British public are increasingly standards. In fact there are significant The RSPB didn’t take this decision concerned about the harmful impacts improvements to the current EU lightly, but the groups have achieved of pesticides. In a recent survey, 78% approvals process that can and should very little to reduce pesticide-related of people said that they wanted the be made. It is imperative that we use harms. In fact, despite the creation government to provide more support this unique opportunity to embed a of the VI and PF, since 1990 the to farmers who are working hard to more sustainable form of farming, area of land treated with pesticides reduce their pesticide use. which is less reliant on pesticides. has increased by 63%. The average number of times key crops are We are therefore calling for the VI The RSPB remains committed to treated, and the toxicity of the and PF to be replaced with mandatory working with farmers to ensure that chemicals used, have also increased. measures to support farmers to food production, and the protection adopt non-chemical alternatives to of nature, works hand-in-hand in the The RSPB considers that the VI has reduce pesticide use. The RSPB also countryside. We will continue to push demonstrated a lack of balance and wants increased funding and research for support for farmers to do just that. favoured pro-pesticide positions, into IPM. and this has led to a failure to support those farmers who are The RSPB would like to see the For more leading the way by using genuine introduction of a national pesticide- information Integrated Pest Management (IPM) use reduction target. This would be contact Stephanie Morren: techniques and reducing their alongside an improved monitoring [email protected] reliance on pesticides. system to measure the impacts of Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Andy Hay

The RSPB is calling for mandatory measures to support farmers to use non-chemical alternatives to pesticides.

4 Fieldfare Summer 2019 News Causes of cuckoo decline Using ground-breaking molecular techniques Lowell Mills, an RSPB-funded PhD student at Exeter University, has increased our understanding of the causes of the decline in cuckoos. Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Lowell examined the diet of cuckoos with declines in agricultural and from prey DNA in faeces. woodland habitats.

As well as confirming the dependence Moreover, analysis of long-term data of adult cuckoos on ‘large and hairy’ from the Rothamsted Insect Survey or aggregating moth caterpillars, showed that moths known to be Lowell also found that cuckoos eat a cuckoo prey had declined four times large number of grasshoppers and faster than other moth species. crickets, which are associated with the decline of other farmland birds To move the cuckoo up the recovery that depend on large invertebrates. curve, these findings suggest both that we need to understand how Lowell’s work builds on that of environmental change is likely to be Cuckoos depend on hairy another RSPB-funded PhD student, driving change in the abundance of caterpillars for food. Chloe Denerley, whose study at key prey moth species, but also that Aberdeen University found that landscape-scale interventions breeding cuckoos were strongly designed to restore populations of For more associated with semi-natural heaths large invertebrates such as moths and information and grasslands where key moth prey grasshoppers might consider cuckoos contact Jeremy Wilson: species had increased, contrasting as a litmus test of their success. [email protected] Land management costs How much money is needed to deliver environmental land management priorities in the UK?

In 2017 the RSPB, the National Trust Further research and modelling work management payments. It is looking and The Wildlife Trusts commissioned is currently underway to help to at testing alternative approaches, such a consultant to assess the costs of improve our understanding of how, as payments based on natural capital meeting environmental land and how much, land managers should values. We hope to share the detail of management priorities in the UK. be paid by the Government to meet this study with Fieldfare readers soon. environmental land management The work involved building an MS priorities across the UK. Excel spreadsheet model, which For more estimated the land management This additional work includes information actions required to meet a range of assessing the financial costs of land contact Alice Groom: defined environmental priorities management in the UK after Brexit, [email protected]

(including for biodiversity/ as well as strengthening the analysis Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) ecosystems, soil, water, landscape in key areas (notably advisory and the historic environment). This services, the costs of securing included estimating the costs of long-term changes in land delivering these actions using management, and the costs of appropriate unit cost estimates. maintaining land management on marginal high nature value farms). This study determined that £2.3bn is needed to meet current The study is also examining the Government objectives (note this implications of moving from the was prior to the publication of the current “costs and income foregone” Good hedgerow management is 25 Year Environment Plan in England). approach to calculating land important for wildlife.

Fieldfare Summer 2019 5 Feature Getting farmers involved in wildlife-friendly farming Balancing the need for food and protecting our environment will be increasingly important as demands on agricultural land increase, reports Michael Macdonald.

Integrating conservation into farming influenced by rewards, risks and costs This indicates that it may be feasible practices requires farmers to engage (in a way that was affected by their to improve farmer engagement more in environmentally-friendly practices. knowledge and perceptions), as well widely by fitting AES prescriptions to Agri-environment schemes (AES) as individual circumstances. local or regional farming practices. are currently the main means used to influence and support farmers to Despite apparent complexity, Farmers who stopped cirl-friendly conserve biodiversity in the UK. individual decisions to engage or practices frequently said it was not in AES could be understood as because of the reduced financial We wanted to understand why common sense. Advisors with a good viability of options relative to farmers choose to participate or not understanding of wildlife, AES commercial production. For in AES, so we interviewed farmers agreements and farming practices farmers, success in CFF generally in the range of cirl buntings in South were regularly reported to play a key meant increasing bird numbers on Devon. The cirl bunting role in helping farmers to commit their own land, but positive recovery project represents one to AES. Payment rates and access experiences also related to knowing of the best examples of species to specialist advice were scored as that their actions had collectively recovery achieved using AES, with the most important requirements to been effective. numbers increasing ten-fold since continue CFF. 1989 thanks to the efforts of farmers, Based on farmer responses, a decline conservation organisations such as Key requirements identified by in AES engagement seems likely in the RSPB, and funding through AES. farmers were simplicity and the short- to medium-term. Causes flexibility in applying for and operating include reducing financial rewards, This study was based on in-depth AES agreements. Our results suggest increasing costs and risks of interviews of 60 farmers, exploring AES engagement could be increased engagement, reduced availability experiences of engagement in AES by adjusting the balance of risk and of advice, policy uncertainty, and a and cirl-friendly farming (CFF) more reward, particularly by investing in perception that the culture of Defra generally. Most farmers had AES high quality advisors. agencies involved in AES had agreements, but we also interviewed becoming increasingly punitive. farmers who had left AES (usually at Farmers were more likely to be in an the end of previous agreements) or AES agreement if they felt that the As Britain leaves the EU, the nature of who’d never participated. practices aligned well with what they future AES agreements in the context Farmer engagement in AES was considered normal farming practice. of the principle of “public money for public goods” is still uncertain.

Our study, which we’re continuing to analyse, helps to identify why farmers participate in AES, and can be used to help increase future participation to maximise the use of public funds for Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Andy Hay biodiversity conservation on farmland.

For more information contact Michael Macdonald: michael.macdonald@rspb. org.uk

Cirl buntings have increased ten-fold in England since 1989.

6 Fieldfare Summer 2019 News Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Ring ouzels are one of the species suffering ongoing declines in numbers. Farming, the environment and the Welsh uplands A new report has revealed an urgent need to balance farming and food production with the needs of nature and people.

The report, entitled Farming, the system for centuries has almost wider contributions to the natural, environment and the Welsh uplands: disappeared. Livestock grazing economic and social environments. A review of evidence, concludes that is now the main land use in the New support measures should the EU Common Agricultural Policy Welsh uplands. Indeed, the number encourage farming practices that isn’t protecting the environment, of sheep and cattle are at a high are appropriate to the sustainable keeping farm businesses viable, or level when considered in historic potential of the land. This includes farmers on the land. terms. For example, sheep numbers appropriate stocking levels and the increased from 5 to 10 million from restoration and maintenance of Some of the key findings include: the early 1960s to the 1980s. habitats for birds and other species.

• More than 80% of farming income • Holdings continue to become This supports our position that public in Wales originates from EU funding, obsolete and increasing numbers funding in Wales is used in ways that and Welsh farmers receive around of farmers are having to find other helps farmers protect and restore £300 million of taxpayers’ money work, with farming becoming a nature and produce high quality food a year. part-time source of income. as efficiently as possible.

• Farmland birds are among Wales’ Despite the concerns raised in the most vulnerable and are suffering report, the Welsh uplands have a For more ongoing declines. This includes great deal of potential for future information many upland species such as environmental provisions, nature contact Rhys Evans: curlews, golden plovers, black conservation activities and agricultural [email protected] grouse, red grouse and ring ouzels. production.

• Mixed (arable and livestock) farming Farmers and landowners must be – the “traditional” agricultural recognised and rewarded for their

Fieldfare Summer 2019 7 News Presseye

Northern Ireland’s farmers taking the nature-friendly farming message to Stormont. Nature Friendly Farmers Take to Stormont Farmers from across Northern Ireland travelled to Stormont on 25th March to call for a sustainable farming and land management policy for Northern Ireland.

The event, led by the Nature Friendly time for agriculture policy in Northern from creating and managing habitats Farming Network (NFFN), showcased Ireland. Decisions made now and in for nature, to measures to improve the crucial role that nature-friendly the future could ensure that farming soil health, water quality, carbon farming plays in restoring natural secures a sustainable future and does mitigation and storage. capital and in the production of high far more to help nature to survive quality, healthy food. and thrive. As farmers we can play The group highlighted the clear a key role in developing a policy that need for a future policy to build More than 40 Members of the delivers better for farmers, nature and on these achievements, with the Northern Ireland Assembly saw how society. We want our members to aim of delivering a vibrant, thriving a future policy based on the principle have a strong voice in these important countryside across Northern Ireland. of public money for public goods policy discussions and to inspire the can support farm businesses, deliver public about nature friendly farming.” environmental outcomes and provide For more value for money. NFFN farmers took the opportunity information, to highlight the work they have contact Philip Carson: David Sandford, Chair of NFFN in undertaken on their farms to deliver [email protected] Northern Ireland said: “This is a critical important public goods. This ranged

8 Fieldfare Summer 2019 News NAO Review Defra’s Food and Farming programme

On the 5th June, the National Audit Office (NAO) published an early review of Defra’s future farming programme, which is responsible for developing a new domestic agriculture policy. The report focuses on the Why does this matter? What’s needs to development of an environmental ELM is a crucial mechanism to deliver happen now? land management (ELM) scheme, the Government’s commitment to which will replace the current system recover England’s natural environment The good news is that there’s still of area-based subsidies, by rewarding in a generation. We know that the time to get back on track. The NAO farmers and land managers for the way we use and manage land is report has provided Defra with the delivery of environmental public crucial to tackle the climate crisis opportunity to take stock of the future goods. We welcome the report, as it and declines in wildlife. It also farming programme. If Defra seizes has exposed the serious challenges forms the “cornerstone” of a future the opportunity to move forward in the programme is grappling with, farming policy, and the basis of the a more structured and transparent whilst there is still time to get it back commitment to move toward a way, there is no reason why, together, on track. system of “public money for public we cannot set the ELM and future goods” in England. farming programme up for success.

What does the Nick Upton (rspb-images.com) report say? The NAO review identified risks to the successful delivery of a transformative environmental land management policy. For example, that Defra has yet to make a robust business case to the Treasury that a future ELM scheme could secure the uptake needed to justify the current annual CAP budget of c£3 billion. The consequence of which could be that Treasury repurpose the current budget and “Defra will need to find alternative ways to achieve the scale of environmental outcomes it intends”.

They also flagged the need to make some fundamental decisions on which environmental outcomes they are seeking to achieve or prioritise, how these will be targeted and identified, how payments will be calculated, and who will be responsible for delivering future policies. These decisions are crucial An effective environmental land management scheme will be crucial to to enable Defra to develop a robust reversing wildlife declines in the countryside. scheme design and provide clarity and certainty to farmers, so they can start For more information, contact Alice Groom: to plan for the future. [email protected]

Fieldfare Summer 2019 9 Opinion: Productivity without pesticides Sandra Bell, a Nature Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, discusses cutting chemical use in our countryside.

The threats to our wildlife and the associated impacts on us have hit the headlines recently – and for good reason. Nature is declining at an unprecedented rate and is now recognised as being as much of a crisis as climate change. Intensive (rspb-images.com) Ian Francis farming, including the use of pesticides, is highlighted by scientists as a key driver of decline. The way we farm clearly needs to change. But in the UK the trends are going the wrong way – we’re treating crops more frequently and with a greater variety of chemicals than ever before.

It doesn’t have to be this way – studies have shown that farming can be productive and profitable with Sandra Bell is calling for chemical use on our crops to be cut. fewer pesticides. In fact, food production depends upon looking Management (IPM) which promotes after the creatures that pollinate alternative pest control methods crops, control pests, and maintain – such as natural predators or soil health. Farmers need bees, companion cropping – with chemicals carabid beetles and earthworms. as a last resort. But these farmer’s friends are among the long list of wildlife being affected This will require a shifting of R&D by pesticides. priorities, training in IPM techniques and the availability of independent Friends of the Earth isn’t promoting a advice to farmers. Currently, too many ban on all pesticides. Yes we’d like to agronomists are employed by see more organic farming – evidence pesticide sales merchants. Such a shows clear benefits for biodiversity. move would have public support – But we also want to see conventional over 85,000 people have signed our farmers helped to cut chemical petition calling for pesticide reduction. use – so that pesticides are a last The forthcoming resort not a prophylactic treatment. The forthcoming Agriculture Bill There are innovative farmers already Agriculture bill provides the opportunity for the leading the way, but they need more Government to commit to an support and their methods need to be provides the ambitious pesticide reduction target shared widely. and commit funding to support opportunity for the farmers to adopt alternative pest We believe that the UK Government control methods. needs to set out a level of ambition, Government to so together with other NGOs, commit to pesticide The Government must also revise its including the RSPB and PAN-UK, we currently inadequate National Action are calling for a target for pesticide reduction. Plan (NAP) for pesticides – it needs reduction. The target must address to consult farmers, NGOs and other toxicity as well as overall use, as stakeholders on how to use the NAP is done in countries like Denmark, to deliver on its promises in the 25 so that more harmful chemicals Year Environment Plan to minimise are reduced first. We also want to chemical use. And for the sake of our see firm measures in place to help wildlife and future food production it farmers take up more Integrated Pest needs to act quickly.

10 Fieldfare Summer 2019 News A route to less and better A new report zeroes in on some of that change is within our reach if we The report sets out some achievable the key actions needed to reduce all play a role. goals, but they need to be supported the amount of meat and dairy we by integrated food and farming eat as part of a healthy and The recommended actions include: policies where health and sustainable diet. sustainability are key outcomes. • Food service to offer more plant- The report has been produced by the based options to rebalance the food Alongside these mechanisms we also Eating Better Alliance of which the on offer. need to celebrate good food and RSPB is a member alongside Friends • Retailers to ensure the food on offer engage with people to develop a food of the Earth, Compassion in World is produced to high standards. culture where flexitarianism (casual or Farming and the Faculty of Public • Government to promote sustainable semi-vegitarianism) is the norm to Health and many others. It comes at a and healthy dietary guidelines to act rebalance our diets. Action on all time when the need for urgent action as a reference point across these fronts will be needed to to reduce the ecological and climate government address the impact our food system change footprint of food can no longer • Producers to harness the is having on the planet. be ignored, yet the barriers to change opportunities provided by can seem insurmountable. environmental services to help deliver less and better meat. For more By setting out practical actions across • Investors to take an active role in information, a range of sectors – government, food understanding the impact of the meat contact Lucy Bjorck: service, retailers, producers and and diary sector and divesting from [email protected] investors – the report demonstrates those who are not acting responsibly

Good Food Nation The theme for the 2019 International with this process as part of the The job of society is to make the Biodiversity Day on May 22nd was Scottish Food Coalition, RSPB links between our food system and ‘Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Scotland has learned some lessons. biodiversity loss, climate change, Health’, highlighting the systemic human health, and social justice links between food and both human There is a growing movement of clear to inform more coherent and planetary health. people who are keen to speak up on policies that get to the heart of our food issues. The key is to make their biggest challenges. In Scotland, the rest of the UK, and voices heard, by empowering, beyond, our food is quickly becoming facilitating and creating the space for a hot topic with the global food people’s experiences and concerns of For more system linked to climate change, the food system to inform how we information, biodiversity loss, population health tackle the problems. There is also a contact Anna Brand: crises, and social inequality. challenge to think systemically and to [email protected] push boundaries. We often lack the Scotland could be ahead of the curve processes and systems to do so. with their Good Food Nation agenda Despres (rspb-images.com) Rosemary introducing a new law on food – a Good Food Nation Bill – into Scots law. A new law would take a whole- food-system approach, helping to make food part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.

The remaining UK countries should follow suit, recognising that food is a crucial component of a fairer, healthier and more sustainable world. A Scottish Government consultation on the Good Food Nation agenda recently closed, and from engaging Food is a crucial component of a fairer, healthier more sustainable world.

Fieldfare Summer 2019 11 Feature Ben(rspb-images.com) Andrew

Megan’s research has looked into the preferences of whitethroats and other bird species at Hope Farm. Research guides farmland bird management Megan Tresise, Masters student from the University of Leeds, reports on the drivers of bird population recovery at Hope Farm.

Nationally, declines of 63% in the 19 (AES) management determined current AES could change to maximise farmland bird index (FBI) species have territory site choice. the potential for improving farmland been reported. However, on a more habitat. More varied boundary local scale, the reversal of farmland I found that bird species had different management providing a variety of bird decline has been observed at the habitat preferences across the hedgerows with and without trees, RSPB’s Hope Farm, where territory farm, which may reflect nesting and where management is perhaps numbers of these species have preferences, foraging resources biennial or triennial, amongst less increased by 226% since 2000. So, or both. Greenfinches preferred managed hedge boundaries, would what are the more specific drivers of hedgerows with minimal management provide important nesting and foraging this recovery of farmland birds here? and larger, bushier foliage. However, resources for a wider variety of the yellowhammers, linnets and farmland birds. Oilseed rape is also My main aim was to identify what whitethroats preferred boundaries an important crop amongst fallow and underlies the increase in bird territory that were under more regular grass areas to keep in the rotation. abundance at Hope Farm. By the management. Greenfinches also spatial distribution of four farmland bird formed territories near fallow fields, For more species, I wanted to see whether the whilst the other species, preferred timing of hedge management, crop, fields sown with oilseed rape. information presence of trees in boundaries or Megan Tresise: presence of agri-environment scheme This research indicates that the [email protected]

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The RSPB is the country’s largest nature The RSPB, UK Headquarters, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, conservation charity, inspiring everyone to SG19 2DL. Tel: 01767 680551. give nature a home. RSPB Scotland, 2 Lochside View, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh, EH12 9DH. Tel: 0131 317 4100. The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International, RSPB Northern Ireland Headquarters, Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast, a partnership of conservation organisations working to give nature a home around the world. BT8 7QT. Tel: 028 9049 1547. RSPB Wales Headquarters, Castlebridge 3, 5–19 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AB. Tel: 029 2035 3000. rspb.org.uk The RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654.

12Front cover: Fieldfare tractor Spring spraying 2018 pesticides on vegetable field with sprayer by Fotokostic (shutterstock.com).