The Importance of Agriculture and Land Management to the East Riding of Yorkshire Stage 2 Report March 2011 Contents Part
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The Importance of Agriculture and Land Management to the East Riding of Yorkshire Stage 2 Report March 2011 Contents Part 1 - Farming and Land Management Action Plan (2011) Part 2 - Evidence base report - Agriculture in the East Riding of Yorkshire 2011 Part 1- Farming and Land Management Action Plan (2011) Date of Issue: March 2011 Introduction During summer 2010, the East Riding of Yorkshire Rural Partnership (ERoYRP) conducted a well attended prioritisation workshop (facilitated by Rural Policy and Partnerships team) where delegates sifted through a long list of issues facing farming and land management in the East Riding. Delegate responses were collated and, on further analysis, could be clustered together into the following themes: • Farmland and water • Food and Farming Futures • Rural Governance (relating to farming and land management) • Rural farm business planning • Farm Business Support The Action Plan below identifies a number of objectives against each theme and specific activities that will contribute to the delivery of the objectives throughout 2011. The ERYC’s Forward Planning, Sustainable Development and Business Support Services areas in particular provided further insights during the development of the Action Plan. Due to the volatile nature of the external policy and market environments which the farming industry is currently operating in, this action plan may be subject to some modification during the next 12 months. Theme Evidence for Action (from ERoYRP Objectives Activity By when Agriculture Seminar (July 10) and Agriculture in East Riding (2011) Evidence Report) Farmland and Key ecosystem service identified Foster a greater understanding at a 1. RP and P team to produce a report, June 2011 Water alongside food production was water local level of the interdependencies in consultation with relevant ERoYRP level management especially in relation of farmland and water management members and service areas on: to flooding and flood risk and water in order to safeguard the future of scarcity. both. ‘The Relationship between Farming and Water in the East Riding of Delegates concerned about • Facilitate a wider debate Yorkshire’ implications of public sector budget around how a system such as cuts and polarisation of issues. For water level management is The effect which flooding (and example, lowland drainage affects maintained locally – inform drought) can have on farmland is well lowland farmers and rural communities where we are now and known. There is less understanding differentially from those on the Wolds examine future scenarios. about the relationship between farming (who could point to need for public and water management. This report investment in water conservation will look at these issues (and policy measures). Land management seen as implications) in more depth. inextricably linked to supply of these ecosystem services in future. ERoYRP to disseminate report. Issues surround how these services will be paid for in future, who will be the beneficiaries and how these decisions will be arrived at and implemented. Delegates also observed a need to keep issues alive in between (flooding) crises and need to counter risk of public bodies becoming inward looking as they deal with budget cuts. Theme Evidence for Action (from ERoYRP Objectives Activity By when Agriculture Seminar (July 10) and Agriculture in East Riding (2011) Evidence Report) Food and Multiple uses of land set up potential • Build a wider understanding 1. RP and P to provide interim report June 2011 Farming conflicts of interest (from recreation to of the changing nature of on progress to date of Leader local Futures conserving biodiversity, food vs energy farming (e.g. at local policy food project. crops). level and non-specialist audiences) Delegates discussed volatility of global • Identify local ‘farming 2. Coordinate ERYC Corporate Jan 2011 plus follow up commodity markets, food security, champions’ and case studies response to EU consultation on CAP local producers and public to convey stories. Look for reform. Consult with other service procurement. examples where landscape areas (especially Sustainable and catchment scale Development as this policy develops). Delegates were concerned about risks initiatives are underway. Use to future funding of environmental with caution (e.g. establish stewardship and effect of markets and clear communication policies on what is produced locally objectives beforehand). 3. Disseminate evidence report Mar 2011 (sustainability of a farmed and managed • Look at longer term futures (Agriculture in the East Riding 2011) landscape). for farming and land use in the East Riding of Yorkshire (e.g. in light of strategic importance of food and renewable energy production and ecosystem services being supplied at a landscape/ catchment scale). • Support local producers and grow market for local produce (Leader project underway). Theme Evidence for Action (from ERoYRP Objectives Activity By when Agriculture Seminar (July 10) and Agriculture in East Riding (2011) Evidence Report) Rural Delegates concerned that existing Provide “expert witness” 1. RP and P contribute agricultural Nov 2010 and on Governance governance and support mechanisms contributions as governance aspects into ERYC corporate response publication of Nature of (relating to (e.g. government bodies facing cuts, structures change. (coordinated by Sustainable England White Paper (spring farming and CAP reform from 2013) are entering a Development) on Nature of England 2011) land period of potentially rapid change. • Stay alert to fast changing consultation management) policy and governance Roles and responsibilities and environment (e.g. emergence governance arrangements are changing of Local Enterprise 2. RP and P and ERoYRP membership e.g.– against the context of government Partnerships). to feed into consultation on later Feb 2011 and ongoing spending cuts. • Plan sustained response to refreshes of the Local Economic consultations (do not be shy Assessment. Risks of confusion for farmers and of contributing to national other rural stakeholders – who does ones e.g. Nature of England what these days? consultation). 3. Develop (alongside the adopted • Support existing and Biodiversity Action Plan) an Ongoing emerging groups/networks appropriate role for ERoYRP in with complimentary themes. supporting delivery of local biodiversity action plans and other ecosystem • Present case for ERoYRP to services. contribute to emerging structures. • Pursue better coordination of policies (e.g. by Defra and Environment Agency) to achieve more joint up delivery at local level. Theme Evidence for Action (from ERoYRP Objectives Activity By when Agriculture Seminar (July 10) and Agriculture in East Riding (2011) Evidence Report) Rural Farm Delegates discussed changing nature of Advocacy role for ERoYRP to: 1. Organise ERoYRP seminar Summer 2011 Business planning. with Forward Planning on Planning • Build awareness of value of implications of Localism Bill Localism Bill. different products and for rural business planning. services from land use. Concerns raised for rural planning to • Develop two way 2. Identify previous planning Sept 2011 be more responsive to business needs – communication with guides for rural users. including whole farm business Planners. Investigate if a refresh / sustainability. update would be worthwhile. 3. Continue to work with Business Services and partners Ongoing engaged in delivering planning seminars for rural businesses in the East Riding. Theme Evidence for Action (from ERoYRP Objectives Activity By when Agriculture Seminar (July 10) and Agriculture in East Riding (2011) Evidence Report) Farm Business Delegates discussed future of business Advocacy role for ERoYRP to: Support support for farming sector around issues of: Raise awareness of business support Continue promotion of ERYC Rural Ongoing available (against changing Business Advisory Service. Productivity, scale, costs of production. backdrop). Business models, encouraging Raise awareness of renewable energy Continue to increase awareness of Ongoing cooperation. opportunities. medium scale/farm based renewable energy technologies (linking this back Business confidence, profitability, to the emerging East Riding of reinvestment. Yorkshire Climate Change Strategy).. Part 2 - Agriculture in the East Riding of Yorkshire 2011 1.0 Purpose and Scope 2.0 Preface 3.0 Industry Structure in the East Riding of Yorkshire 4.0 Key Sector Profiles 5.0 Renewable Energy 6.0 Farming, the environment and climate change Annexes 1. Purpose and Scope of Report 1.1 In October 2008, the East Riding of Yorkshire Rural Partnership (ERoYRP) produced a report which highlighted the importance of agriculture and land management to the East Riding of Yorkshire. The paper was initiated as part of a review of the East Riding of Yorkshire Rural Strategy and summarised recent and emerging trends in agriculture and land-use in the local area. It covered economic, environmental and social indicators and used, as its baseline, information contained in the last known review of agriculture in the East Riding of Yorkshire - the ‘Brazel Report’ (Farming and Rural Issues in the East Riding of Yorkshire, MAFF, 1996). 1.2 Following endorsement by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Cabinet, the 2008 report informed the development of the Rural Strategy for the Hull and Humber Ports City Region and was disseminated to interested stakeholders. 1.3 Recognising the recent and rapid resurgence in the importance of agriculture