A SURVEYhas shown farmers have a strong interest in the environment and the need to tackle climate change - but they do have concerns over the lack of clarity on the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS).

The survey was carried out jointly by the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) and Strutt & Parker ahead of the first CLA Rural Powerhouse Week.

Four out of five respondents said they were either likely or very likely to join ELMS, or an equivalent scheme, when it becomes fully available in 2024. But respondents also signalled that they did have concerns about how ELMS will operate.

CLA President, Mark Bridgeman said that government's optimism for the move towards 'public money for public goods' was clearly not shared by all farmers.