EUSTICE REJECTS DELAYS

THE crisis for farming has prompted the National Farmers’ Union to call for a delay in cuts to subsidy payments as a result of the UK leaving the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy.

The acreage-based Basic Payment Scheme is being phased out from next year, to be replaced with payments linked to farmers delivering environmental benefits, but Defra Secretary George Eustice yesterday rejected the call to hold up the changes.

Mr Eustice, the MP for Camborne and Redruth, said: “The Basic Payment Scheme saw 10% of recipients receive almost half of total payments.

“It achieved nothing more than inflated land rents and input costs, whilst preventing farmers from retiring and new entrants getting access to land.

“Since January, in England, we have increased the money going to Countryside Stewardship, we have consulted on an exit scheme and we will be setting out plans to support new entrants,” Mr Eustice added. “At the same time, we have seen beef, lamb and milk prices rise to five-year highs.

“Our reforms are incentivising farmers to farm more sustainably, create space for nature and enhance animal welfare outcomes. We are supporting the choices that farmers make for their own holdings.”

However, NFU president Minette Batters told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “What we’re seeing going on with the pig sector at the moment, the economic shocks felt by the closure of CF Fertilisers, [the firm] that produces 60% of the ammonium nitrate fertiliser in this country, it’s unprecedented.

She said those difficulties justified putting off the changes to the subsidy system until 2024, in line with plans for Scotland and Wales, whose devolved governments have already agreed to delay the cuts.