The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs has approved rules which will help ensure farmers receive subsidies based on the level of productive and environmental activity.
The rules, proposed in the short-term recommendations of the Brian Pack inquiry into the future of farming support include plans to close the loophole which allows some farmers to receive Single Farm Payment (SFP) despite carrying out little or no farming activities.
First sightof the plans to crack down on Scotland's so-called 'slipper farmers' were unveiled on 25th June when Brian Pack released the short-term recommendations from his inquiry.
During an event held at the Royal Highland Show, Mr Pack said that the question of inactive claimants using barren hillsides to activate Single Farm Payments (SFP) had emerged as a major problem. Moves to tighten the rules allowing farmers access to millions of pounds in European subsidies have now been approved by Richard Lochhead.
Speaking this week, Mr Lochhead said:
"The industry and the Scottish Government are united in wanting financial support for agriculture delivered to only those carrying out genuine activity.
"As time goes by, we are all agreed that continuing to base payments on levels of activity carried out years ago is plain wrong. Although this remains a complex issue to resolve, hopefully so called slipper farmers will now see that the writing is on the wall.
"Tightening the rules to ensure that land has to be grazed and kept in good condition will strengthen the link between Single Farm Payments and farming activity.
"We will now work up an implementation plan, in consultation with stakeholders, so that the strengthened rules are in place from 2011."
The short-term report details the Inquiry's recommendations for actions which can be implemented between now and 2013. The recommendations are that:
- No change is made to the current basis of allocating SFP prior to 2013
- New computer systems are developed to deal with pending changes to the support regime
- Scottish legislation on undergrazing, and the accompanying guidance for Scottish Government inspectors, should be tightened up in order that Single Farm Payment only goes to active farmers
- New entrants to farming should be given high priority as the post-2013 arrangements are negotiated
- The scoring system for the Rural Priorities scheme should favour new entrants
- No additional use should be made of Article 68 measures beyond the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme, and that
- The Beef Calf Scheme be retained after the current EU approval runs out
The Brian Pack Inquiry was set up in June 2009 to examine the best route forward in ensuring continued and appropriate European support for Scotland's farmers. Mr Pack presented his short-term recommendations during an event at the Royal Highland Show in June. The final report is due later this year and will inform the Government's negotiating position on the post-2013 Common Agriculture Policy.
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