EU measures to take heat off producers in drought struggle

NFU welcomes help but says work needs to be done to see if the proposals have practical use in Scotland

The European Commission has announced measures to help farmers who are grappling with drought conditions.

Producers will be able to receive up to 70% of their direct payment and 85% of payments under rural development from mid-October instead of waiting until December to improve cash flow.

They will also receive derogations from some greening conditions, including crop diversification and ecological focus area rules on land lying fallow to allow it to be used for animal feed production.

European Farm Commissioner Phil Hogan has encouraged member states to look at all possible measures which are provided for in the legislation.

The commission’s announcement was welcomed by NFU Scotland vicepresident Martin Kennedy, who farms near Aberfeldy. However, he said work needed to be done to see if the measures will be of practical use to farmers in Scotland.

The union is calling for relaxation of the three-crop rule requirement to allow growers more time to bale straw rather than plant winter crops; a shortening of the EFA fallow period so it runs from April 15 to July 15 2019 to allow a fodder crop to be grown over the autumn and be available for stock in early spring; and relaxation of the rules that require “green manure crops” like clover, peas and oats to be ploughed in after August 15 as this could be used for fodder.

Mr Kennedy said: “In these exceptional circumstances, it is vital that all options are examined so that industry does not face an even bigger crisis come the autumn and winter.”

Irrigation is continuing in many areas despite recent rain.