We've responded to the DECC consultation on cutting solar energy tariffs.

Over the last month, many NFU members got in touch to make their views known or to highlight the difficulties the proposals were making for their investment plans.

We've used your feedback to help inform our submission to government.

Read the response here.

By clicking on the related documents at the top of this page (or the links at the bottom), you can still downloadour draft guide anda template letter if you wish to contact your MP. This is just an outline - NFU members are encouraged to write in their own words to their MPs, who will be most likely to act on a letter if it contains the particular details of a constituents own experience.

As well as reducing most of the solar FiT rates by more than 50% and bringing the deadline forward fromApril 1to mid-December, the consultation proposed that multi-site installations will receive an additional 20% reduction.

Furthermore, new solar installations in the UK will be eligible only for domestic properties with an energy efficiency rating of 'C' or better a measure that is thought to exclude up to two-thirds of Britains present housing stock. Details of how to apply this to non-domestic properties have yet to be worked out.

Linking FiTs to energy efficiency may be good idea in principle, but the NFU has concerns about how this is going to work out equitably without creating disincentives or perverse outcomes.

• Read our briefing on the proposals here.
• Visit the DECC consultation page here.
• Download our template letter here.