Pressures on managers of extensive livestock systems

Extensive livestock farmers are motivated to maintain and improve family income and the quality of their production but are no longer supported in the use of well researched and proven techniques for the improvement of their businesses by increased output through technological change. Returns, other than from subsidies, are now more driven by market forces and as a result progressive farmers are putting more effort into improving the quality or marketing of stack. Surveys reveal that weather and government policy are the main causes of stress in the lives of farmers. This is a change from earlier surveys where technical difficulties were viewed as more important. Pressure is increased because farmers feel they are not well represented politically and are faced with a future of dependency on subsidies. These they fear may be suddenly withdrawn owing to political change, public reaction to fraud or other uncontrollables. Changes in emphasis away from food production involving destocking to achieve conservation goals have been enacted as national policies and are the subject of current legislative change. With diversification into alternative livestock production systems blocked by the financial effects of consequent loss of subsidies livestock managers are under pressure, particularly those motivated to expand the business. This pressure is greater on the smaller upland unit with sheep and cattle than the more extensive larger hill farms. Pressures are less intensive where funded schemes such as those found in ESA's are in operation and where farmers are well informed about conservation goals and heavily involved in the planning of management agreements involving their stock.