MP calls on government to back British hill farmers by cutting modulation levy

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on the government to put a bigger focus on hill farmers and the uplands and the vital role they play in British Agriculture.

Tim has called on the government to do more to help hill farmers by slashing the modulation levy, which is the amount that the government takes off single farm payments. Tim would like to see a greater recognition of the role that upland farmers play in protecting our towns from flooding, maintaining access to the fells for walkers, developing and protecting our landscape and biodiversity and of course producing the highest quality beef and lamb.

Tim has long been an active campaigner on behalf of hill farmers and currently chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hill Farming, which seeks to press the case for hill farmers and ensure that their priorities and needs are constantly in the minds of ministers during the current negotiations in the EU on CAP reform.

Commenting Tim said: "We depend on our hill farmers in many more ways that most people would imagine - yet they are poorly rewarded for their work. We need to make sure that a higher proportion of farm payments goes into the uplands, and that we cut the modulation levy so that farmers keep more of their income to invest in their businesses and in protecting our environment and landscape"