GOVERNMENT proposals to bring in measures to offset the possible environmental impact of the loss of set-aside will top the agenda at the next meeting of the York National Farmers’ Union (NFU) regional crops board on Tuesday.

These proposals are the subject of industry consultation and, says regional food and farming adviser Louise White, it is crucial the industry presents a robust response.

“Compulsory set-aside legislation, which constitutes one option within the consultation, could cost the industry up to £40 million-a-year and impact on farmers’ ability to maximise the productive potential of their land,” she said.

“Thanks to intense lobbying by the NFU and other industry organisations Defra is also consulting on a voluntary approach that would encourage farmers to adopt additional environmental measures and meet agreed biodiversity targets, but give them the freedom to do so in a way that still allows them to maximise food production.

“The alternative is a regulatory requirement to take perhaps five per cent of cultivated arable land, as well as land used to grow vegetables, potatoes, sugar beet, maize and other crops, out of production.

“We believe this constitutes a major threat to both the efficiency and competitiveness of our industry, and that’s why we want to involve as many north east farmers as possible in our response to this consultation.”

At the meeting at the NFU’s regional office, from 7.30pm, the NFU’s national countryside adviser, Andrea Graham, will be on hand to explain the options and what they will mean practically at farm level.