United action urged over threat of new generation of ‘slipper farmers’
A LENGTHY meeting yesterday between the Scottish Government and farming leaders on the allocation of public subsidies for land which is let out on a seasonal basis failed to come up definitive solution but it did produce a stern warning to landowners who are now claiming the new area payments on land they are renting out.
Speaking prior to the meeting, rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead warned land owners they would be “mistaken” if they thought they would qualify for common agricultural policy (CAP) payments without meeting strict minimum activity requirements.
Claiming he did not want to see another generation of socalled “slipper farmers” receiving cash support while carrying out no farming, he added: “We have also introduced strengthened minimum activity rules to stamp out slipper farming and ensure payments are only made where genuine farming activity takes place.
“My understanding is that land is still available to rent but in some cases the CAP payments are now being claimed by the landowner rather than the tenant. I can certainly understand why so many tenant farmers are concerned by this situation, which has been brought about by EU rules, and I look forward to exploring this issue in more detail when I meet industry.
“Would-be slipper farmers have no place in the new CAP. If anyone thinks that landowners with no track record of farming can take land back in hand and get payments then they are mistaken. And they are severely mistaken if they think payments will be made on entitlements where there is no farming activity.
“Everyone claiming basic payments will need to provide verifiable evidence of appropriate farming activity that will be carefully scrutinised by my officials. And claimants will be held accountable for ensuring all cross-compliance, minimum activity and other relevant regulatory obligations are met.”
Christopher Nicholson, the chairman of the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association, who attended the meeting, said he could see the difficulty the Scottish Government was in with Europe not being prepared to further link support to active farming.
“Realistically, this is the best we can hope for,” he said. “We will have to hope the uncertainty for those flying close to the wind will deter some landowners from claiming the entitlements while still charging the same levels of rent as last year.”
Last night, Scottish Land & Estates (SL&E) called for all parties involved in the issue to work together. SL&E chairman David Johnstone acknowledged there was an issue around seasonal grazings and said his organisation had written to Lochhead seeking a solution.
“Scottish Land & Estates does not support or condone ‘slipper farming’ and clearly anyone that applies for support must meet all the requirements of the scheme.
“Rather than portray this issue as a new slipper farming problem, that is viewed as landowners versus farmers, which ignores the fact that many landowners are themselves farmers, we should be looking for solutions.
“Landowners, tenants and graziers all need to be talking to one another to make sure they all understand the new rules and how they apply in their situation and to discuss how best to structure their business relationships so as to benefit all parties in the years to come.”
“Would-be slipper farmers have no place in the new CAP” Richard Lochhead