Gove sets out his vision for future farming policy

consultation: Defra secretary aims to redirect subsidies to environmental schemes

The Scottish Government has hit out at the UK Government’s consultation into future agricultural policy after Brexit.

The 10-week consultation – Health and Harmony: The Future of Food, Farming and the Environment in a Green Brexit – sets out Defra secretary Michael Gove’s vision to redirect money from direct payments under the Common Agricultural Policy to a new system which pays farmers “public money for public goods”.

Public goods include farmers’ work to enhance the environment and invest in sustainable food production, as well as investment in technology and skills to improve productivity, and measures to provide public access to farmland and the countryside.

Mr Gove said: “The proposals in this paper set out a range of possible paths to a brighter future for farming.

“We want everyone who cares about the food we eat and the environment around us to contribute.”

He said the Government would continue to commit the same cash total in funds to farm support until 2022, and an “agricultural transition” will be introduced before the new system is up and running.

He said reductions to direct payments to the largest landowners first could free up around £150 million in the first year of the transition period, and that the cash could be used to boost farmers delivering environmental enhancement and other public goods.

A Scottish Government spokesman yesterday said it was unclear whether the consultation was setting out a vision for English post-Brexit farm policy, or a UK-wide policy.

He said the fundamental approach to any overall future farming strategy should be that farmers produce high-quality food and that it is a clear public good.

“It is therefore concerning that the UK Government is seeking views on whether to remove direct support for basic farming activity or food production from farmers following the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme in England,” the spokesman added.

“This would be wholly unacceptable in Scotland as it would put our farmers and food producers at a disadvantage to those in the EU, and clearly demonstrates why it is absolutely vital for Scotland to have full control over agriculture policy.

“The paper gives no clarity on what the total funding for rural policy will be to replace CAP and environment and rural funding.”

Michael Gove wants to cut support for wealthy landowners.