A major survey of farmers’ attitudes to changes in the Government’s agricultural policy shows that English farmers recognise the need for the environment and animal welfare to be prioritised.

The results showed that farmers acknowledge the key link between a thriving natural world and successful farming.

The survey, published today by Wildlife and Countryside Link, showed that 80 per cent of farmers believe the health of the natural environment is important or very important for their farm business.

Pollution prevention was rated by most farmers as deserving Government funding in future farming policy, with more than half of farmers (56.2 per cent) believing that activities which prevent pollution should be supported.

Animal welfare (50.4 per cent), habitat restoration (41 per cent) and biodiversity conservation (38.2 per cent) all ranked more highly than food productivity and competitiveness, which 38 per cent said should be prioritised. Soil conservation and protection of crop, tree, plant and bee health were ranked closely behind at 37.2 per cent and 35.0 per cent respectively.

Further key findings from the independent research with 500 farmers, carried out on behalf of environment and animal welfare charities, reveal that:

● Two thirds of farmers say regulation is important or very important to protect standards in the farming industry. This is particularly significant considering over 90 per cent of respondents class themselves as ‘conventional’ or ‘high-input’ farmers

● Half (50 per cent) of farmers agree with the principle of ‘public money for public goods’ (one third are neutral, and one in five disagree with the principle). Younger farmers are the most supportive with 56 per cent in favour and only 15 per cent against public money for public goods.

● Increased weather volatility, e.g. flood and drought caused by climate change, is the second most commonly reported problem facing farmers (affecting 40 per cent), second only to increased costs and reduced profit margins (affecting 51 per cent). Weather volatility is hitting horticulture (75 per cent affected) and arable farmers (51 per cent) the hardest.

● A third of farmers are currently taking no environmental action to deal with problems on their farms, 44 per cent are undertaking one or two environmental activities, one in five are undertaking three or more

● Farmers cite lack of access to capital and uncertainty caused by Brexit as by far the biggest barriers to making environmental and other improvements to their farm business (41 per cent of farmers experienced lack of funds access and 41 per cent are struggling to make changes due to Brexit)

Carole Bamford from Daylesford Organic Farm, Gloucestershire commented on the report, saying: "Nature is an excellent indicator that farmers are striking the right balance; farming is about much more than just producing calories.

"We are required to produce nutritional diversity, we manage critical resources such as water and soil, and we are custodians of unique landscapes. Farming is critical for the future protection of nature."

Dave Knight from Wydon Farm, Exmoor, commented: "We farm 1,400 acres of upland beef and sheep on Exmoor. For us, lack of capital is a serious blocker to improving habitats for wildlife.

"Loss of non-productive areas isn’t an issue, we wouldn’t necessarily need to be paid for certain areas to be taken out of production. However, we don’t have the upfront capital to, for instance, buy fencing to exclude livestock to create the habitat that wildlife needs. Without that capital, there is no real incentive to carry out these vital works and our time is better spent elsewhere."