Learn froom the Scottish scheme
NFU Cymru has called on the Welsh Assembly Government to investigate how the Scottish support scheme for farmers in the hills could work in Wales.
The Chairman of NFU Cymru's Less Favoured Area Board has written to Countryside Minister Carwyn Jones urging him to look at the Scottish Scheme when deciding on the future of the Welsh scheme, Tir Mynydd.
Jon Owen, who farms in Conwy, says that there are lessons to be learned from the Scottish scheme.
"Whilst we wish to see a scheme that is tailored to the specific needs of LFA farmers in Wales, we believe that there are lessons to be learned from Scotland. An increase in budget to Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance levels - the scheme that preceded Tir Mynydd - targeted at those farmers who have lost out under Tir Mynydd, would go a long way to mitigating current losers without disadvantaging those that have gained from the current scheme," he said.
Robert Howat, Vice President of NFU Scotland and a member of the Scottish Executive's LFA Working Group spoke at the NFU Cymru LFA Board about how the Scottish LFA Support Scheme has evolved since the ending of the HLCA scheme.
"The Scots have suffered the same problems over redistribution of support as Welsh farmers since the new scheme was brought in," said Jon Owen.
"But they ensured that before the safety net dropped to 50 per cent a more acceptable scheme was in place. NFU Cymru has argued consistently for a radical review of Tir Mynydd prior to the 50 per cent safety net being implemented in 2003."
He explained how the Scottish system is beneficial to hill farmers:
* Grazing Categories - They use a Grazing Category value system based on stocking density in an historical reference period (2001). This is multiplied by that holdings payment rate per hectare to give a revised payment rate. This payment system, altered to reflect the farms historical stocking rate, goes a long way to mitigating the redistribution of hill farm support.
* Environmental Top Ups - Farmers who have followed political and environmental guidance to maintain favourable ratios of cattle to sheep in the LFA are rewarded with a top up. A similar allowance within Tir Mynydd would do much to offset the losses of those who have been adversely affected in Wales.
* Budget - The Scottish LFA Budget has been maintained at HLCA levels and is guaranteed to remain at £61 million until 2006. During the period 2000 -2003 the budget for LFA support in Wales has dropped by 14 per cent (£6 million). NFU Cymru feels that while both countries have 80 per cent of land in the LFA, Wales is the poor relation in terms of the LFA budget.
"I have asked the Minister to consider how we could learn from the Scottish system to create a fairer scheme for Welsh hill farmers," said Mr Owen.
"We need a detailed analysis of the winners and losers in the changeover from HLCA to Tir Mynydd so that we can have an informed debate on the future of the current Tir Mynydd Scheme when it is reviewed in 2006."
