Administering land-use policies for agriculture: A possible rôle for county agriculture and conservation committees

Abstract

This paper highlights recent political and environmental concern over the consequences of British agricultural policy. It suggests that conservation needs to become a farm management objective and that policies should be designed to that end. The administration and implementation of policies is seen to be crucial and County Agricultural and Rural Conservation Committees are proposed as a suitable mechanism for administering the new policies. Earlier precedents for such committees and possible powers and a constitution appropriate to the 1980s are discussed. The committees are seen in the context of a bargained partnership between government and farmers, with a primarily self-regulatory function within the agricultural community.