VISITORS to the latest Forward Farming demonstration, at Welburn Manor Farm, near Kirkbymoorside, were told that the new environmental stewardship Entry Level Scheme would be open to all farmers.

Karen Stanley, of North Yorkshire Farm Wildlife and Advisory Group (FWAG), explained that entry would be guaranteed if farmers met the scheme requirements.

"Under the latest proposals, flat rate payments of £30 per year would be payable over the five-year duration of the scheme's agreement, providing the farmer undertakes a number of environmentally-friendly management options which score a minimum of 30 points in total," said Karen.

By entering the scheme farmers would be able to recover some of the money withdrawn from their support payments by the 'modulation' process, which seeks to re-direct public funds from production subsidies to environmental improvement.

Karen advised farmers to carefully select the management options that best suit their farms. Options include measures to maintain field boundaries, woodland, landscape features and historic features. Some of the arable options introduced in 2002 to the Countryside Stewardship Scheme are also available, such as over-wintered cereal stubbles and areas of wild-bird seed.

It was demonstrated that host farmer Major Johnny Shaw could generate a major proportion of his points requirement from field boundary management alone, since Welburn Manor Farm's average field size is small. Farmers with larger fields would need to include more of the in-field management options.

Bishop Burton College, Beverley, runs the Forward Farming demonstration farm project. The next event, featuring precision farming techniques, will be held at Hessleskew Farm, Sancton, York on June 3 and further details are available from Bill Meredith on (01964) 553000, or from www.forwardfarming.org.uk.

Bill Meredith

Agriculture section head

Bishop Burton College

Updated: 12:22 Wednesday, April 14, 2004