THE deadline for farmers and land managers in the region who wish to sign up to a new Government environmental scheme has been extended.

Officials from the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) took the decision after complaints about administrative delays.

The deadline for applications for the Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) scheme is now July 1, extended from May 31.

Under stewardship agreements, farmers have to carry out specified environmentally-friendly activities on their land, including creating habitats next to ditches and ponds and leaving stubble through the winter for birds. In return, they will receive an annual payment of £30 a hectare.

Dorothy Fairburn, Country Land and Business Association (CLA) regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "Farmers were facing financial loss through no fault of theirs. We made Defra aware of the levels of anger and frustration among many of our members who have had more than enough of form-filling to meet unrealistic deadlines.

"The new scheme will increase the number of farmers and land managers who can be rewarded for good practice because it will make it financially viable for them to extend environmental management alongside the production of livestock, food and industrial crops."

Published: 07/06/2005