The article addresses the struggles of hill farmers, particularly focusing on the Staley family, who manage a farm in the picturesque Mallerstang Valley, located in eastern Cumbria. Matthew and Liz Staley have devoted nearly five years to running their farm, facing the harsh realities of both the landscape and the economic pressures within the farming industry. With their sons, Lewis and Luke, aspiring to take over the family farm, the Staleys find themselves at a crossroads, burdened by the threat of financial instability that looms over them due to shifting government policies.
Nestled at an elevation of 1,000 feet, the Staley family’s farm is marked by its stunning scenery, but beneath the surface lies a financial struggle that has only intensified in recent years. Farming incomes, especially in hill areas, have been on a steady decline. To cope, Matthew engages in freelance dry stone walling, while Liz juggles a full-time job and a part-time position just to keep the family’s finances afloat. The family’s situation became even more precarious following the announcement of significant cuts to the government’s Basic Payments Scheme—a key subsidy designed to help farmers maintain their livelihoods.
As outlined in recent government budgets, the Basic Payments Scheme, which many farmers heavily rely on, is set to be reduced by at least 76% in the upcoming year. The Staleys, along with many other farmers, are concerned that this drastic cut will cripple their already-struggling financial situation. By 2027, the program will be entirely phased out, and farmers receiving payments over £30,000 will suffer an even more severe loss. For the Staleys, who are just on the edge of financial viability, this presents a formidable challenge.
The broader agricultural community is brimming with anxiety, underscoring Liz Staley’s concerns that government actions may obliterate not just their family farm but also the hill farming culture as a whole. While some argue that new environmental land management schemes may offer relief and support, smaller farmers like the Staleys have reported difficulties in accessing these new programs. The transition from the Basic Payment Scheme to the proposed alternatives has not gone smoothly, creating a gap in support for farmers who were relying on the continuity of income that the subsidies once provided.
Political representatives, such as Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, echo the sentiments of the Staley family, criticizing the pace at which the new environmental schemes have been rolled out. He highlights the risk that tenant farmers face as they may soon find themselves unable to afford their rents due to the cuts, potentially resulting in evictions. Despite government assurances that farming support is at a historically high level, farmers remain skeptical about the promises that money allocated for sustainable practices will effectively benefit them in practice.
The Staley family’s hopes for the future rest heavily on their sons, Lewis, 17, and Luke, 22, who dream of continuing the legacy of hill farming. Their parents express pride in their commitment to farm life, yet they feel the emotional toll of impending financial instability. The couple fears that the policies being enacted will not only harm their ability to continue working the land but may also deter future generations like their sons from pursuing farming altogether.
Liz’s appeal to Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlights a profound sense of betrayal; she implores him to recognize how vital farmers are in nurturing the landscape he professes to love. The Staley family’s struggles symbolically represent a broader crisis affecting rural communities deeply intertwined with the land and farming traditions. The unfolding fiscal landscape poses a significant threat, and unless the government can provide meaningful support amid this transition, numerous farming families may be faced with an uncertain future, with many forced to abandon a way of life they deeply cherish.
