Don’t go blindfolded down ideological route while others recouple – Mackintosh warns Paice

While other EU member states eye up the next reformation of the CAP as their chance to recouple a percentage of their Single Farm Payments, NFU livestock board chairman Alistair Mackintosh is warning Defra’s Farming Minister, Jim Paice, to recognise the competitive disadvantage this could put English farmers.

Under the new proposals member states, including our main competitor Ireland, have the potential to recouple up to 10% of the Single Farm Payment and are giving serious consideration to it.

"I share Mr Paice’s view that farmers need to be closer to their markets but I don’t want to see English farmers taken blindfolded down that ideological route again whilst our neighbours are supported to undercut our products," said Mr Mackintosh.

"If the Irish are able to recouple it gives them an edge, not only in our home markets, but also in the world markets. What is the Minister going to do to ensure we are not at a competitive disadvantage? We don’t want to go back down a recoupling route but the Minister has to recognise that pillar one funding is really important and valuable to English farmers."

Mr Mackintosh put that question to Mr Paice MP in person at the NFU’s Conservative Party fringe event which took place in the Buckingham Suite of the Palace Hotel in Manchester on Monday 3 October. Other speakers at the event included Peter Kendall (NFU President), Richard Benyon MP (Environment Minister), Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Defra Minister) and

Mark Spencer MP who chaired the event.

Mr Paice answered: "We do not want to see any recoupling taking place. Defra wants a CAP that’s easier to understand with a greater proportion of the budget going into pillar two funding. We want a CAP which concentrates on issues which will make agriculture more competitive and innovative. I’m encouraging farming ministers in the new entrant member states to make record keeping and continued professional development mainstays of their businesses."

Approximately 180 people attended the fringe meeting, with a healthy percentage of those attendees being farmers from Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire.

At the event, Mr Paice was also questioned by former NFU Lancashire County Chairman, Tom Rigby of Johnsons Farm in Warrington, who urged him to do all in his power to keep the laboratories at the Barton Hall Animal Health offices in Preston open.

NFU Cheshire Council Delegate, Stuart Yarwood of Lower Medhurst Green Farm in Congleton, then spoke of the need to encourage younger people into farming and asked how more could be done to promote the farming industry to school leavers and university graduates.

Richard Benyon MP said that the farming industry was a respected business, not only because of what it does, but because of the skills it brings as well. Peter Kendall then spoke passionately about encouraging more young entrants into the sector, and the need to include the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills in any discussions.