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<p>Farmers in the UK, Ireland and across northern Europe have experienced a difficult
time this year with the hot, dry weather. The impacts are likely to be most severely
felt by the grazing livestock due to the shortage of grass.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>It is clear that the main impact of the recent drought conditions is likely
to be felt by livestock farmers facing a shortage of fodder and that the full extent
of the impacts may not be realised until later in the year. We have prioritised practical
solutions to help farmers increase access to fodder and bedding both now and in the
coming months. These actions will help farmers to limit the impact of extra feed costs
by allocating land to forage growth and grazing, but we will keep the situation under
review.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Particular measures the Government has taken
to help farmers are:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li><p>We have clarified that
English farmers, unlike farmers in other EU countries where derogations have been
sought, have been able to use fallow land for grazing since 1 July. That is because
our legislation reflects what we consider to be the minimum EU requirement.</p><p>
</p></li><li><p>We were the first Member State to raise a concern with the Commission
to establish Ecological Focus Area (EFA) catch crops by 20 August: Other Member States
agreed with us and the Commission agreed that “force majeure” would apply in these
circumstances, so we could waive penalties for farmers in this situation.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>We
are seeking a derogation from the requirement to sow only certain seed types which
are unpalatable to livestock in EFA areas as catch crop. The derogation we expect
to secure this week will allow for grass and herbaceous forage to be grown in those
areas, and those areas to be grazed.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>On Countryside Stewardship,
Environmental Stewardship and forestry legacy agreements farmers are able to ask Natural
England to agree a temporary variation to the agreement conditions, either as an Environmental
Stewardship Derogation (to date, over 100 have been granted) or a Countryside Stewardship
Minor and Temporary Adjustment (over 30 have so far been granted).</p></li></ul><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I will monitor whether the fodder import scheme
that has been introduced in Ireland has an appreciable effect on supplies of fodder
and bedding within the UK. We have also made the point to the European Commission
that whilst the UK is committed to working to identify appropriate responses to this
year’s weather impacts, these should not interfere with the normal functioning of
the market or obscure the focus of farmers in mitigating weather impacts.</p><p> </p>
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