FARMERS, politicians and union officials packed a crisis meeting in Okehampton yesterday (Wednesday) when hill farmers heard their incomes could be slashed by new government proposals.
The meeting at Okehampton Rugby Club was called by the Dartmoor Hill Committee — NFU regional director Anthony Gibson explained the revamp in support payments which some believe could spell the end of hill farming on the moor.
Under the new scheme support will be granted by land, rather than head of stock.
Agriculture minister Nick Brown originally pledged a 'safety net' would make good hill farmers' losses under the new system, to the tune of 90 per cent in the first year.
But according to a Ministry announcement last week the 'safety net' will now only fund 75 per cent of losses — drastically cutting farmers' incomes in marginal areas like Dartmoor.
Mr Gibson said it was a 'particularly bitter blow' for an area where traditionally there were more animals but less land.
'Hill farming has always been precarious, but if this proposal is implemented it will become virtually impossible.
'It is so important that this meeting today sends a message to the minister that 90 per cent support means 90 per cent, not 70 per cent.
'We are only talking about £10-million — barely enough to furnish Gordon Brown's office in the Treasury.
'We want to ram home to the government that it will either have to increase substantially the funding for this scheme, or go back to the drawing board completely if it wants to keep the hills alive.'
Chairman of the meeting, John Dawe, of Bere Ferrers, said: 'I find this totally unacceptable. We were told there were going to be no winners and no losers.
'Everybody appears to be a loser, this doesn't make sense to us and appears totally wrong.'
Mr Dawe said the money had enabled hill farmers to keep the moorland environment in the state it was today.
He said in most cases farmers stood to lose a third of their income initially with support dropping off considerably more in future.
'On a hill farm the subsidy probably represents all the profit and a small proportion of running expenses. If you cut the support, that wipes out the profit eventually altogether,' he said.
John Hodge, a hill farmer from Okehampton and chairman of Dartmoor Commoners' Association, said: 'It's a major disaster — for the young farmers it's no encouragement at all when you think on average a lot of people will be 75 per cent down.
'Farming on the hills is looking after the environment — this acreage payment will ruin the infrastructure in years to come unless something drastic is done.
'No-one can take these sorts of losses.'
The meeting was attended by many south west MPs including West Devon and Torridge's John Burnett.
He said it was 'outrageous' to 'sneak out' the 'particularly punitive' measures in an announcement during government's recess.
'Every MP will be working to reverse these measures,' he said.
'Rest assured we shall arrange for as many West Country MPs as possible to write an open letter to Nick Brown — we shall also try to see him in the very near future.
'The government has reduced support available for hill farmers at the worst possible time with industry already in deep depression.'
Dr Nick Atkinson, Dartmoor National Park Authority chief executive, said although the DNPA supported a change to acreage payments, a 'more acceptable' method of support should be developed.
He said Dartmoor would not be a National Park if it were not for hill farmers.
'Dartmoor marks its 50th anniversary this year — we want you to be there for the next 50 years. That can only be if your livelihoods are sustained and increased,' he said.