Three crop rule’s removal seen as ‘ common sense’
The “greening” element of farm support will continue for Scotland’s farmers, it has been confirmed – but changes put in place to better tailor the scheme to the country’s needs have been termed a “significant step in the right direction” by the industry.
And while the retention of the controversial range of measures is at odds with the decision taken south of the Border to drop greening requirements for 2021, they are being viewed as part and parcel of the deal t o continue direct payments to Scottish farmers broadly i n l i ne with the current CAP scheme through until 2024.
The maj o r c h a n g e i s to drop the need to meet the crop diversification requirement – the threecrop rule – next year, a rule which has been viewed as ill- suited to the Scottish situation since its introduction in the 2015 support reforms.
But both t he r equire - ments to plan and record fertiliser and lime inputs on permanent grassland and the ecological focus areas ( EFAS) will remain in the short term, with the latter being subject to a wider review in the near future.
Speaking yesterday, Scotland’s rural economy secretary, Fergus Ewing said that the moves marked the first steps towards implementing simplifications
and improvements to the administrati on of CAP schemes, as well as giving farmers reassurance to plan their crops as the autumn sowing season was already underway.
“We have worked closely with stakeholders and listened to the farming and crofting communities to simplify the schemes we administer.
“Removing crop diversification from greening not only does this, but demonstrates our commitment to practices that are favourable for the climate and the environment.
“By working with farmers and crofters to enhance EFAS we can help cut emiss i ons and e nhance t he environment in a way that i s practical f or Scottish agriculture.”
C o mme n t i n g o n t h e r e t e n t i o n o f g r e e n i n g , NFU Scotland president Andrew Mccornick said: “The premise on which the Scottish Government’s greening proposals are based is that direct support payments will continue in Scotland from 2021 until at least 2024 on the same basis as they do now.”
But he said that if environmental conditionality was to be attached to financial suppor t , t he union believed t hat measures had work with the grain of agricultural businesses as well as deliver meaningful environmental outcomes.
“NFU Scotland has consistently argued that the EU’S blunt greening rules were poorly targeted on Scottish environmental issues. Today’s announcement from Scottish Government is a significant step in the right direction.
“S c r a p p i n g t h e C r o p Diversification require - ment [ t hree - c r op r ul e ] makes for common sense, while the importance of permanent grassland and efficient input use should be explored in the context of both climate ambitions and business performance.”
But he said that on the EFA front, the union had l ong a dvo c a t e d s mar t - er, more effective options which were also less onerous.
He said: “If the principle of EFAS is to be retained, then it’s right that farmerled revisions are made to embrace climate change as well as biodiversity.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said that further information a nd up dat e d g ui da nce for the 2021 scheme year would be available shortly.