DEFRA has backed the CLA in the North’s calls for more payments to be moved to moorland areas.

Douglas Chalmers, CLA in the North’s director of policy and public affairs, said: “The Defra analysis confirms that farm business incomes will increase significantly and keep up with earnings growth in the wider economy.

“These benefits will then ripple across greater numbers of upland farms, with significant effects on our natural environment and remoter communities.

“By simply transferring three euro per hectare from our lowland farmers we can add 33 euro to the payment for every moorland hectare. Farmers in these areas not only have to run their businesses despite permanent natural handicaps, but also receive less support than others in the industry.”