Complicated new rules will disadvantage farmers warns NFU cereals chair
New rules announced by Defra as part of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy are in danger of making life overly complicated for cereals farmers, warned the chairman of the NFU's Combinable Crops Board today. (FRI JUL 23).
Arthur Hill, who farms at Walton Grange, near Much Wenlock, said Defra's announcements were "extremely disturbing" and contradicted the promised "simplified" approach to the CAP.
"Market focus, minimal re-distribution of support and simplification were central aims that the Commission set out for Member States to deliver in implementing these reforms," said Mr Hill, who chairs both the NFU's national and West Midlands Combinable Crops Boards.
"From a cereal farmers perspective, it certainly does not feel as if this is what is actually happening. "
Among a raft of other measures, Defra has announced that farmers must provide a two metre uncultivated protection zone in fields alongside hedges and watercourses.
This will be introduced when the next planting season starts in July 2005 but Mr Hill feels that the imposition of these strips places British farmers at a disadvantage when compared with foreign competitors.
"This is typical of the complications that Defra have introduced during the past few months since the initial agreement on the reform of the CAP," said Mr Hill.
"What makes this decision all the more galling is that it only applies to England. The rest of the UK will not be required to keep uncultivated margins and surely that places us at a distinct disadvantage.
"The decision to apply national modulation further exacerbates our competitive position compared with other member states.
"We cereal growers will see at the very least a 15 per cent reduction in CAP support to our businesses, and now face an additional hurdle in being able to participate in the new Environmental Stewardship scheme.
"It makes me wonder how all this leaves Sir Don Curry who has worked extremely hard to try to make it easier for 70 per cent of arable farmers to enter the entry level scheme and with it all the environmental gains that it brings.
"The farmers who have planted 5,000 kilometres of hedges over the past few years will feel extremely disadvantaged.
"All we have ever asked for is equal treatment but the current plans for the new rules seems to have made it more unbalanced than ever and we will be seeking urgent meetings with Defra departments to discuss these announcements further at the highest level."
