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SAC Rural Policy Centre Responds to CAP Reform Proposals

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N121
Published: 13 Oct 2011

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SAC’s Rural Policy Centre has responded following the publication of the European Commission’s proposals for CAP Reform.

The RPC highlights a number of issues of key significance to Scottish Farming. These are:

  • All member states are obliged to move towards uniform payments per hectare by the start of 2019. At face value this would represent a significant re-distribution at national or regional level.
  • The greening measures will be of particular concern in Scotland. There are questions about the definition of ‘permanent pasture’, due to longer crop rotations here and the emphasis on grassland farming.  While not a problem in arable areas the requirement to maintain three crops in the rotation may create difficulties in livestock farming areas.
  • The potential to redirect up to 5% of the budget to Less Favoured Areas (LFA) is of particular interest to Scotland because of the scale of our LFA, the marked declines in livestock numbers observed in the LFA in recent years, and the high proportion of Scottish farmland which is under High Nature Value farming systems.
  • The Scottish response to coupled payments could well depend on whether the money is distributed from the national budget or on a regional basis.
  • While the increased financial support being proposed for young farmers is welcome, there could still be difficulties in attracting new entrants to the industry.

The Rural Policy Centre’s Dr Jane Atterton said: “As one MEP declared earlier today, the devil will be in the detail. The Rural Policy Centre will be uncovering and analysing this detail over the coming weeks and months to better inform the debate amongst policymakers and others.”

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr Jane Atterton
Policy Researcher
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 5354256

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News Release Issued By

Ms Jane Smernicki
Head of Communications
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4331

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