The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2015 - Issue 38 | Page 14

Farm News

MANY FARMERS WILL STILL
LOOK TO SOLAR SCHEMES

»»The effect of the
decision to abandon farm
subsidy for land which is used
for both solar power and grazing
is a “knee jerk” reaction that
could have the opposite effect
to that intended, according to
rural advisor Victoria Lancaster
of H&H Land and Property.
The decision was ostensibly
made in order to reduce the
visual impact to the countryside
of solar farms, but Victoria
believes that the outcome is
likely to make farming less
profitable where land is often
only suitable for low yield
grazing.
The Environment Secretary,
Elizabeth Truss said last autumn
that farmers will lose their right
to claim subsidies for fields
used for solar generation. She
wants to ensure that agricultural
land is dedicated to growing
crops and food. She said she
is also responding to voices
raised in rural communities who
believe their countryside will be
blighted by solar farms.
The Minister argues that this
move will help boost Britain’s
food and farming industry that
is currently worth £97 billion to
the economy. No farm subsidy
is being paid on land with Solar
Panels afterJanuary 2015.
Victoria Lancaster believes
this move is short sighted:
“There are significant areas
where lower grade agricultural
land is only suitable for limited
permanent grazing, and the
livestock sector, in general
is struggling. The returns

per acres can be boosted by
diversifying into renewable
energy and having the same
land grazed - so they are
effectively in dual use and
should be recognised as such.
“Removing farmers’ ability to
claim subsidy may well cause
a reduction in the contribution
to the Agri-economy overall.
Adding solar maximises the use
of the land. It can still be farmed
and offers a secure income
stream when the economy is
less than sunny,” she adds.
“It is a shame that more
thought has not been given
to this. It seems like a knee
jerk reaction to those who
think only about the look of
the countryside rather than its
viability.”
Victoria has worked with
many farmers and has often
seen that the income per acre
from solar panels is greater
than from grazing. This means,
that in spite of the changes
to the Single Farm payment
scheme she believes many
farmers will still be looking at
solar schemes.
Her advice to farmers is:
“Do not drop the idea of solar
panels, as it does offer a secure
income stream while enhancing
the viability of farming overall.
Visual impact is of utmost
importance but that is a matter
for careful design, siting and
planning rather than this
blanket approach.
“Having solar panels
combined with grazing
is a win-win situation for
everyone, especially when the
government’s own targets for
green energy are very unlikely
to be me