The NFU in the North East is calling on three National Park authorities to support its drive to secure the future of upland farming - and in the process ensure the continued management of the region's much-loved landscape.

In a letter to the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Northumberland National Parks, NFU Regional Director, Richard Ellison, has urged them to take part in the debate about the future of the Hill Farm Allowance, which he describes as a 'lifeline' for hill farmers facing the difficult conditions presented by the upland landscape.

The Hill Farm Allowance (HFA) is currently under review and the NFU has set up a new Upland Working Party to look at how the scheme should be developed for the future.

"Our view is that an adequately funded replacement HFA scheme is absolutely vital to ensure that farmers continue to farm the upland areas in the way they have always done," said Mr Ellison.

"Hill farmers across Yorkshire and the North East manage more than 1.7 million hectares of land, 350,000 of which are in one of the National Park areas.

"The stunning landscape that underpins our thriving regional tourism industry is not there by chance, it's there largely due to generations of farming activity. If we want to maintain that, we need upland farming to remain viable.

"In the past, the HFA was developed to help hill farmers meet the particular demands of farming our upland landscape and if anything, its continuation is even more important given the likely impact of this year's wide ranging agricultural reforms.

"These reforms mean that farmers across England are having to adopt a much more market-focused approach and that is a particular challenge for our hill farmers. They are renowned for the quality of their cattle and beef, and have an important role to play in the British livestock industry, but there's no doubt we will need to consider carefully how we encourage them to keep doing what they have always done."

The NFU is now looking at how the HFA could be developed for the future, but says Mr Ellison, it's important for the National Park Authorities to add their voice to the debate.

"Without the input of farmers, we simply would not have the landscapes that bring people flocking in from all over the world," he added. "I know the National Parks are concerned about the impact of any changes to the way our upland areas are managed. We now need them to voice this concern and help us develop a sustainable hill farming sector that can continue to contribute to the rural economy."