Management Plan - North York Moors National Park

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Business and Land Management4.2 AgricultureFarming in the National Park produces food for widerpopulations, has a key role in the local economy and is integralto many rural communities. Unusually for an upland NationalPark, all farming sectors are represented with some 20% offarmland in the National Park being arable. Farming has greatlyinfluenced the landscape of the North York Moors and alsosupports important habitats and wildlife, and helps to sustaintourism.A report carried out by Askham Bryan College 60 on behalf ofthe National Park Authority estimated the output, in quantityand value, for each farming sector in the National Park.Throughout this section the figures for output are based on thecalculations in this report and are subject to the assumptionsthat were made in it. Output values are all net of subsidies andother income and are based on 2009 agricultural census data.From 1990 to 2009 stock numbers declined by; 38% dairyherd, 23% breeding sheep flock and 43% pig breeding herd.The suckler beef herd rose by 14% and ‘other pigs’ by 29%(equating to around 95% of total pigs). It would appear basedon historic data that stock numbers could change significantly ifthere were the political and economic drivers to facilitate it.The total value of output from agriculture in 2009 wascalculated at £56m. Of this the largest proportion was dairy(24%) followed by cropping (23%). Further benefits to the localeconomy are provided by the employment of 2,554 people inagriculture, less than half of which are employed on a full timebasis. The number of people employed in farming has fallensignificantly over the last 20 years with the largest decline beingin full time workers.The farming sector relies heavily on payments provided via theCommon Agricultural Policy, which at the time of writing iscurrently under review. These take two forms, direct paymentsfrom the Single Payment Scheme and agri-environmentpayments made in return for committing to varying levels ofenvironmental management. These are currently the nationalEntry Level, Upland Entry Level, Organic Entry Level and HigherLevel Environmental Stewardship Schemes. Access to theHigher Level Stewardship scheme is restricted to farms of highenvironmental quality. The financial viability of most farms in theNorth York Moors is dependent on the Single Payment Schemeand in some cases on access to agri-environment monies.Current estimated receipts from the Single Payment Scheme toagriculture in the National Park is around £16 million annually.There are currently around 634 Environmental StewardshipScheme agreements active covering some 74,000 hectaresof farmland and moorland, plus a further 90 CountrysideStewardship Schemes. Farm income is also often supportedthrough diversification.There is the potential for growth in energy crops, currentlymiscanthus or willow although the distance from markets islikely to limit this and there may also be adverse visual impactswhilst the overall energy benefits vary hugely. The developmentof biofuel markets could affect the proportion of crop (largelywheat) use between food and energy and may in time prove anincentive to increasing crop production.As stated above, a wide range of food is grown or producedwithin the National Park, including crops such as cereals andpotatoes, dairy products and meat. Initiatives such as marketingof North York Moors lamb have helped to raise the profile offood produced in the Park and a number of shops and cafes inthe Park focus on selling locally produced food. It is consideredhowever that more could be done to promote the NorthYork Moors brand, reduce food miles and support localproducers.Challenges● There is increased demand for food productionnationally to meet demands of a larger populationand also to increase food security and reduce relianceon imports, whilst also improving environmentaloutcomes and enabling habitat networks to beimproved.● Climate change is predicted to result in increasedtemperatures and changing rainfall patterns which willpotentially lead to a longer growing season and theopportunity to grow a wider range of crops but mayalso lead to droughts and increase the risk of pestsand diseases.● The global economy and markets will continue toinfluence agriculture in the National Park and thefuture prospects for farming will be dependent onthe level of financial support farmers receive fromEuropean Union and government grants. Changes tothe Common Agricultural Policy are scheduled to takeplace in 2013 which will have an impact on farmingprofitability in the North York Moors.● Scope to improve the economic performance ofsheep farming and other sectors through the sharingof knowledge and education on good practice.60 Agricultural Output in the National Park Current Level and FutureProspects (Askham Bryan College, 2011)82 www.northyorkmoors.org.uk
● Maintaining the ‘traditional farmed landscapes’ inthe area which contribute to landscape quality andsupporting traditional skills such as dry stone walling andrecognising the costs involved in maintaining the landscape.● Trend for larger farm buildings due to animal welfare, largermachinery and economies of scale, which can have adramatic impact on the landscape.● Reducing emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from thefarming sector together with CO 2 is increasingly important.● Biosecurity will need to be maintained to minimise the riskof disease import and transfer.● Integrating environmental measures alongside commercialfarming to protect and enhance natural resources andwildlife.● Local processing and marketing of produce grown andreared in the National Park.● Matching landowner priorities with the optimum ‘public’use for the land, whilst ensuring provision of public goodsis sufficiently incentivised.North York Moors National Park Management Plan83
Page 4 and 5:
Special Qualities of theNorth York
Page 6 and 7:
PrefaceThe National Park Management
Page 8 and 9:
1. Context1.1 The North York Moors
Page 10 and 11:
ContextThe vision for the North Yor
Page 12 and 13:
Context1.4 How the Management Plan
Page 16 and 17:
Context1.7 Sustainable DevelopmentT
Page 18 and 19:
ContextWoodlands and ForestryThere
Page 20 and 21:
ContextMonitoring and TargetsIt is
Page 22 and 23:
ContextFigure 2 continuedAREA OFASP
Page 26 and 27:
EnvironmentAIM■ The landscape cha
Page 28 and 29:
Environmentcommon with some other u
Page 30:
EnvironmentAIM■ The archaeologica
Page 34 and 35: EnvironmentMany of the most importa
Page 36 and 37: EnvironmentAIM■ The North York Mo
Page 38 and 39: EnvironmentPOLICIESE15. New develop
Page 40 and 41: EnvironmentMap 3: Tranquillity with
Page 42 and 43: EnvironmentAIM■ The North York Mo
Page 44 and 45: Environment2.5 GeodiversityThe geol
Page 46 and 47: Environment2.6 Air QualityAlthough
Page 48 and 49: Environment2.7 SoilsSoil is essenti
Page 50 and 51: Environment2.8 MoorlandThe North Yo
Page 52 and 53: EnvironmentHow Management Plan prog
Page 54 and 55: EnvironmentProspects for Future Tre
Page 56 and 57: EnvironmentPOLICIESE38. When felled
Page 58 and 59: EnvironmentMonitoring of fish popul
Page 60 and 61: EnvironmentHow Management Plan prog
Page 62 and 63: EnvironmentAIM■ The natural and h
Page 64 and 65: Ralph CrossJust wander up as far as
Page 66 and 67: Understanding and Enjoymentthat the
Page 68 and 69: Understanding and Enjoymentaimed at
Page 70 and 71: Understanding and EnjoymentPOLICIES
Page 72 and 73: Understanding and EnjoymentHow Mana
Page 74 and 75: Understanding and EnjoymentAIM■ A
Page 76 and 77: Understanding and Enjoymentare prim
Page 78 and 79: Understanding and EnjoymentHow Mana
Page 80 and 81: 4. Business and Land ManagementThe
Page 82 and 83: Business and Land ManagementAIM■
Page 86 and 87: Business and Land ManagementProspec
Page 90 and 91: Business and Land Management4.3 For
Page 92 and 93: Business and Land Management4.4 Moo
Page 94 and 95: Business and Land Management4.5 Low
Page 96 and 97: Business and Land Management4.6 Loc
Page 98 and 99: Business and Land ManagementHow Man
Page 102 and 103: 5. CommunitiesThe remote nature of
Page 104 and 105: CommunitiesAIM■ The National Park
Page 106 and 107: Communities5.3 FacilitesOutside the
Page 108 and 109: Communities5.4 Housing and New Deve
Page 110 and 111: AIM■ More affordable homes to mee
Page 112 and 113: CommunitiesAIM■ A safe and effici
Page 114 and 115: Communities5.6 EnergyThe businesses
Page 116 and 117: CommunitiesAIM■ Residents and bus
Page 118 and 119: CommunitiesAIM■ Waste produced fr
Page 121: AcknowledgementsPhotographsNorth Yo
show all

Management Plan - North York Moors National Park

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?