A united decision on the division of England regarding the administration of the proposed Single farm payment following CAP reform was reached on Thursday by a consortium of nine farming, countryside and heritage organisations.

Forum Response: National Farmers Union

Tim Bennett, NFU president, said: "Everyone recognises that Defra's original decision was unfair. The NFU is pleased that all these organisations have been able to come together to agree an alternative proposal.

"A regional averaging system is bound to create winners and losers, and there is no way of avoiding that. The proposal we have put forward helps to mitigate these unfair effects.

"We realise that the three region system alone won't be enough to sustain all farming activities in the hills and uplands. To this effect, the NFU will continue to work with allied organisations to develop new opportunities under the forthcoming rural development plan, and take farming forward to meet the demands of the international market place."

Forum Response: Country Land and Business Association

Mark Hudson, president of the CLA, said: "It's rare for the farming industry to unite, but today, the industry speaks with one voice.

"Nine organisations including the CLA have agreed on a farm payments model which we presented to secretary of state Margaret Beckett.

"Whilst each of us would probably have preferred a slightly different model, the organisations agree that their solution 'would be an improvement on the two-region model'.

"The three region model offers better protection for England’s spectacular upland landscape. This system will help preserve the environment by continuing to encourage mixed grazing, which helps prevent the uplands from deteriorating into thistle and bracken.

"Every organisation involved has accepted some sacrifice for the sake of farming’s future, and our joint solution offers the best long term benefits for farming as a whole."