Fight to continue fragile life on moors

3:01am Thursday 20th December 2007

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HILL farmers have warned they need Government support if they are to survive and continue looking after the countryside.

The Government is reviewing the Hill Farm Allowance, which gives them support for the harsh conditions they farm in and the lack of alternatives.

Edward MacMillan-Scott, MEP for Yorkshire and Humber, is visiting the uplands in different member states to see what support their government's give.

He has also spent the day in Danby, on the North Yorkshire Moors, to hear the views of local farmers. He met Andrew and Jill Kelly and their five boys - all aged under ten - and heard how running a cafe has provided a lifeline.

The couple are tenants on the 400-acre Stonebeck Gate Farm, in Little Fryup, near Danby.

Recent foot-and-mouth and bluetongue movement restrictions have had a drastic effect on their farm income.

Mr Kelly said: "Last year, we sold 140 wether (castrated) lambs for £22 per head - this year they are going for £6 to £7 each."

The lack of an export market also saw their light lambs sell for £10 compared to last year's £25-£30. At the same time, costs have risen dramatically, particularly for fuel and feed.

Mrs Kelly said: "It is hard; we work so hard, but it does not seem to make a difference."

The Kellys cut their sheep from 500 to 200 after the foot-and-mouth crisis in 2001. They also run 60 suckler cows.

The family have run a bed and breakfast business for ten years but ran out of space with the arrival of Jack, nine, Patrick, seven, Arthur, five, Nicholas, three, and Joseph.

They needed extra income and took over the cafe at the North York Moors National Park Centre, in Danby.

It has proved a godsend - not only for them but for other farmers' wives and youngsters who work there. The cafe is open seven days a week and uses as much local produce as possible.

Mr Kelly said: "When we came here 12 years ago, every farm in the Dale was full time.

"Now, most have at least one person working off-farm and the youngsters are not interested in taking over."

The couple said politicians must realise how fragile the hill farming community is.

Mr Kelly said: "These hills look the way they do because generations of farmers have looked after them. Without farmers, they would be completely different."

Mr McMillan-Scott said: "I have talked to farmers in France and Italy and they complain that it is a tough life, but I have a very strong impression they get better looked after than our own hill farmers."