DEFRA has set a new minimum claim size for the Single Payment Scheme (SPS), administered by the Rural Payment Agency, at one hectare.
DEFRA also announced that it will not seek to introduce an objective farmer test, which has also been suggested, and that it will integrate previously coupled protein crop and nut payments into the SPS from 2012, the latest possible date.
In announcing the move, minister of state for farming and the environment Jim Fitzpatrick said: “By setting the minimum claim size at 1ha, the lowest area allowed by the EU, we have minimised the amount of change for farmers and ensured that as many farmers as possible will be able to claim.
“Ultimately, we want to see more reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), so that it rewards farmers for the public benefits they provide. This includes looking after the environment, something which the market alone cannot reward.”
National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Peter Kendall said: “This is a pragmatic, common-sense decision in which DEFRA has clearly listened to the views of stakeholders. We are particularly pleased that DEFRA has resisted the temptation to set a higher minimum claim size. We could see no advantages in this; to have gone for a higher threshold would have comprised a minority of smaller claimants for no gain to the rest.”
Speaking on the decision to delay integration of protein crop payments to 2012, the NFU said that this was a sensible approach from an administrative perspective. However, it sounded a note of caution about proposals in France to introduce a new aid payment for protein crops from next year.
Kendall said: “The proposals that have emerged in France to supplement existing protein crop payments by up to an additional €100/ha are worrying and the NFU will be seeking to ensure that the proposals meet the tests laid out under Article 68 of the CAP Health Check regulation.
“As things stand these proposals seem to amount to a serious competitive distortion for UK pea and bean growers and we urge both DEFRA and the European Commission to monitor developments closely.”
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