NEW APPROACH WILL LIGHTEN THE LOAD FOR FARMERS

NEW APPROACH WILL LIGHTEN THE LOAD FOR FARMERS

London, 13 September/GNN/ --

DEPARTMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (ref:
395/05) issued by the Government News Network on 13 September 2005
England's farmers will be able to save themselves time, money and labour by
plugging into a new web-based system which will ultimately transform their
partnership with Government, farming minister Lord Bach announced today.

The Whole Farm Approach could save the farming industry up to £28million
a year, depending on uptake, by cutting red tape and delivering a quicker,
simpler and more efficient way of doing business.

This programme is one of a number of initiatives being taken forward by
Defra including those on farm regulation, and the Animal Health and Welfare
strategy, all of which are aiming to support the farming industry by making
regulations easier to understand. It also fits in with the wider government
initiatives to reduce regulatory burdens on industry as a whole.

The first stage of the system, including a web portal and detailed farm
appraisal in the form of a self-assessment package, was unveiled today.

Farmers and growers who sign up for the Whole Farm Approach when the whole
system goes live next year, will be able to reduce the time they spend
filling out forms and the number of inspection visits to their farm.

The system will continue to be enhanced over the next few years, adding more
functionality and further increasing the benefits to be derived. We will be
continuing the current close working relationship with both our regulatory
partners, our IT suppliers and, most importantly, the farming industry to
identify those areas where the greatest value can be added. Key areas being
looked at are links with Farm Management Software and Farm Assurance schemes.

Lord Bach said: "This will simplify our working relationship with farmers
and means we can co-operate more effectively than ever before."

"The Whole Farm Approach is an innovative IT system, but it is much more
than that. It is also the start of a new partnership between Government and
agriculture which is streamlined, effective and flexible.

"The benefits to the individual farmer are clear. It is currently estimated
it could save farmers up to 15 hours a year because once they put their
details on the system they won't need to again. It will save them money,
up to £28million every year across the industry, because it reduces the
hours they spend filling in forms and having farm inspections.

"This is, however, just the beginning. We hope it won't be too long before
farmers can use the Whole Farm Approach to do everything from filling out
the farm census and applying for the Single Payment Scheme to registering
their animals and acquiring their waste licences exemptions.

"Our objective is to ensure that it serves the needs of our customers; English
farmers. So we are starting by fine-tuning the system with the help of 300
farmers from around the country who will participate in System Preview
events. I hope thousands more will sign up for the Whole Farm Approach when
it goes live early next year. It is only with the wide support of individual
farmers who actually use the system that the real benefits to the industry
as a whole can be achieved."

Lord Bach was joined for the unveiling of the new system by Tim Bennett,
President of the National Farmers' Union, Baroness Young, Chief Executive
of the Environment Agency and Jane Willis, Strategic Programme Director of
the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr Bennett said: "The Whole Farm Approach is a welcome and central part
of the new relationship between farmers and government. It will reduce
duplication and make the requirements of regulation clearer and simpler to
follow, allowing farmers to get on with running their businesses rather than
chasing paper. The NFU has worked closely with Defra's development team to
ensure that the system offers real time savings for farmers and growers. I
would urge farmers to preview the system and prove its worth for themselves."

The Whole Farm Approach is being developed by Defra and its IT consultants IBM
and SunGard. Its flexible design will ultimately allow farmers to communicate
online not only with Defra but with a host of other departments and agencies.

Source: DEPARTMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

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Profile: Agriculture