Farmer MEP says EU 'greening' policies could generate “total crop failures”

Norfolk farmer Stuart Agnew MEP, the UKIP spokesman on agriculture has strongly criticised the EU for its attempts to impose the ’green’ agenda on farming. In a speech to the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee (23.6.11), during a debate on the future of the CAP, Mr Agnew has warned that these new polices could lead to ’total crop failures.’

Mr Agnew said: ’Whilst the term ’greening of Pillar 1’, may appeal to armchair farmers, it will pose major problems to heavy land farmers who could well abandon land rather than attempt to plant it in the spring. Had this policy been enforced this year, it would have resulted in total crop failures.’

He also called into question the policing of greening measures: ’Proper inspection and enforcement of greening measures will also be impossible. To be effective, the capping of single farm payments will need to be severe. This will immediately motivate farmers to split their businesses with their spouses so that the full payment is retained on both divisions.’

He concluded his remarks with a reference to the severely cold winters recently experienced in Britain: ’I hope the last three winters will have convinced all of you that there is no threat to us from global warming.’