Impact of CAP proposals spelled out to farmers

Editorial Department • Published 2 Feb 2012 13:00 0 Comments

Fermanagh farmers have highlighted the impact of regionalisation and the interpretation of active farmers when the Ulster Farmers' Union held the last of their county meetings in Enniskillen last week.

The UFU said it was clear from last week's Fermanagh meeting and all the other meetings held over the last number of weeks that there is a consensus that future Single Farm Payment money should be directed towards those farmers actively engaged in food production rather than those who let the land and do nothing.

However the possible repercussions of regionalisation also provoked plenty of discussion.

The full Presidential team from UFU headquarters including President, John Thompson; Deputy Presidents, Harry Sinclair and Ian Marshall; Chief Executive, Clarke Black and, Policy Director, Wesley Aston took part in the meeting. Also in attendance, was Leslie Craig, Technical Officer, who works with the Fermanagh UFU office bearers.

Opening the meeting, the President outlined the events leading up to the publication of the CAP Reform proposals while Wesley Aston went through the main items of the proposals which would affect farmers here, in greater detail.

He explained to farmers how they must have activated at least one entitlement during 2011 to be eligible for claims for the basis payment from 2014 onwards. Because Northern Ireland has a hybrid model based on historic and area payments, the EU wants every Member State to have all entitlements in their regions with a uniform value by January 1 2019 and with an area based payment.

Greening payments would have repercussions for Northern Ireland farmers as the proposals now stand. Arable farmers would have to adopt crop diversification by growing three different crops.

There are a number of optional payments such as the Optional Natural Constraint Payment, known locally as the LFA payment. Up to five per cent of the regional ceiling of SFP can be used. The Optional Coupled Support otherwise known as the National Envelope can also take up five per cent of the regional ceiling.

There are also young farmers payments, for those who are under 40 at the time of application.

There is also a National Reserve.

An alternative is to allow a Small Farmers Payment for those who receive between 500 and 1,000 euros.

Northern Ireland farmers claim around £290 million in SFP for one million hectares of land.

The UFU has already spelled out its views saying that there is a lack of emphasis on food security in the proposals, there is potentially more red tape than before, their concern at the level of greening proposals, and the length of the transitional process.

They also support the principle of support going to active farmers but would have big concerns over the impact on the availability of conacre land as around one third of agricultural land in Northern Ireland is rented out annually. They also want more flexibility to support young farmers.

During a discussion over transfers of land, it was pointed out that Single Farm Payments would need to be in a will to pass on to the next generation.

On regionalisation, some farmers in the audience had real concerns that those in severely disadvantaged areas would lose out on support.

Wesley Aston said the Union was in favour of having the option for regionalisation but that real discussions would have to be held to see the impact on farms across the Province.

The UFU say that greening proposals would actually result in decreasing biodiversity than increase it and point out that Northern Ireland has four times as many hedgerows as they require to comply with ecological focus areas and they believe the three-crop proposal is not needed in Northern Ireland where there is a relatively small arable area. Part of the proposal could prevent grassland farmers ploughing which annoyed agricultural contractors who carry out reseeding.

The only other business raised at the meeting was the concern over rural crime. One farmer highlighted the problem in the Clogher Valley where up to 30 cattle have been stolen in a few weeks

"Where's the traceability system now," he said exasperated

President, John Thompson said the Union had recently met with the Policing Board and PSNI to highlight rural crime and they have also teamed up with a number of business firms promoting security systems suited to farms.

The Union will be putting together its first main response to the CAP reform proposals within the next few weeks and further discussions will be held over the next year.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 02 Feb 12

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