Mccornick asks for three crop rule to be relaxed

The late, cold, wet weather over the past year triggered Scottish farming leaders and politicians yesterday to request a one year release from an EU requirement that farmers grow at least three crops in their arable acreage.

The ‘three crop’ rule was introduced in the last reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to prevent mono-culture but the poor weather last autumn, winter and this spring has made compliance with it very difficult.

In the request for a one year derogation, NFU Scotland president Andrew Mccornick stated, “With autumn plantings substantially down on the year and the cold, wet conditions this spring working against ground preparation and planting, the window of opportunity to plant and establish spring crops in 2018 is closing and meeting the three crop rule for many farmers will be almost impossible.”

In calling for what he described as “a sensible and pragmatic derogation” from meeting the challenging three-crop rule, he revealed he had raised the matter this week both with the Scottish Government and with European Commissionerphilhogan.

Mccornick also revealed the Union had been in contact with colleagues from other parts of the UK to ensure a clear and consistent message from UK farmers on the case for derogation was being made

Giving his support to the request, Scottish Government Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said, “The prolonged harvest and on-going wet conditions had a serious knock on effect on cereal farmers’ ability to sow planned crops. This has already seen a reduction of around 20 per cent of winter crops being established and significant delays for cereal farmers in sowing spring crops. This has immediately reduced options available to meet the three crop rule for Scotland’s cereal farmers.

“Given the on-going weather conditions, it will require a period of continuous dry weather to allow spring planting to move forward. As such, I can confirm that I have written to Commissioner Hogan seeking a one season derogation from the three crop rule. This is a sensible approach, which if agreed by the EU, would provide some much needed relief to farmers across Scotland.”

Commissioner Hogan has already granted a one year derogation from the three crop rule for Irish farmers following a request from the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) whose president Joe Healy said it would give growers the required flexibility to establish the maximum amount of arable crops weather permitting. “Today’s decision by Commissioner Hogan is a pragmatic move, recognising the severe difficulties faced by growers in what is proving to be one of the latest springs in living memory.

The month of March has been an unusually wet and cold month, particularly across the main arable regions of the country.