Hill farmers in England will shortly start to receive payments of the 2001 Hill Farm Allowance. In excess of £40m is being paid to upland farmers, many of which have been hit by the foot and mouth disease crisis. The Hill Farm Allowance Scheme (HFA) is a new MAFF scheme, which replaced the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance. The aim is to maintain upland communities, support continued agricultural land use and help preserve farm upland environment.

Updated: 09:25 Thursday, April 05, 2001