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NFU hits the road to talk CAP

27 Oct 2011

Proposals to change the way farmers receive financial support from Europe will be discussed at a series of NFU meetings across the country.

Corn and coins The NFU has already described the release of the European Commission’s Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform proposals as ‘disappointing’ and ‘a missed opportunity’.

Now staff and officeholders, including NFU President Peter Kendall, are hitting the road to give members a chance to explore the detail of what has been put forward.

During the roadshows farmers will be able to give their views on various reform proposals such as the definition of an active farmer, mandatory “greening” actions, support for young farmers and a special scheme for small farmers.

NFU senior CAP adviser Gail Soutar said: “The proposals put forward by the Commission are complicated and controversial. We believe that very few of them will help deliver the stated EU objectives of ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive growth for European agriculture’. In fact the bureaucratic and restrictive nature of the proposals threatens to make farming less competitive.

“One of the NFU’s main objections with the Commission’s plans is the proposal to take seven per cent of a farm’s area out of production - especially in light of the need to produce more food, from a limited amount of land, to feed a spiralling global population.

“These meetings around the country are vital as the views we gather will form part of our lobbying efforts in Westminster and Brussels where we aim to ensure the voice of the British farmer is heard loud and clear.

“We are also urging our members to contact their local MPs and MEPs to discuss the impact of the CAP reform proposals on their own farm businesses. This will further raise awareness of the impact of the Commission’s proposals and help build the case for change in the coming months and years ahead.”

Visit our CAP channel here.

The NFU CAP briefing sessions are taking place in the following locations:

North East

October 27 – 1.30pm, Askam Bryan College, York, YO23 3FR (NFU President Peter Kendall and NFU chief economist Phil Bicknell attending)
November 15 – 2pm, Britannia Hotel, Newcastle Airport, NE13 8DJ
November 15 – 7pm, Darlington Rugby Club, Darlington, DL1 5NR
November 16 – 7pm, Cedar Court Hotel, Wakefield, WF4 3QZ

North West

October 27 – 7.30pm, NFU, Agriculture House, 1 Moss Lane View, Skelmersdale, WN8 9TL

South East

October 31 – 7.30pm, Pembroke Room, Oxford Belfry, Milton Common, OX9 2JW (NFU President Peter Kendall and NFU chief economist Phil Bicknell attending)
November 1 – 7pm, Hampshire Suite, Holiday Inn, Morn Hill, Winchester, SO21 1HZ
November 10 – 7pm, Kleinwort Room, South of England Centre, Ardingly RH17 6TL
November 14 – 7pm, The Clive Emson Conference Centre, Kent Showground
Detling, Maidstone, ME14 3JF
November 30 – 7pm, The Chequers Inn, Niton Road, Rookley, Isle of Wight, PO38 3NZ

East Midlands

October 27 – 7.30pm, Three Swans, High Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7NJ (NFU President Peter Kendall and NFU chief economist Phil Bicknell attending)
October 31 – 9.30am, The Patio Room, Springfields Events Centre, Spalding PE12 6ET
October 31 – 2.30pm, Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground LN2 2NA
November 2 – 7.30pm, Bluebell Inn, Tissington, Ashbourne, DE6 1NH
November 3 – 7.30pm, The Music Room, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Kelham Hall, NG23 5QX (NFU chief economist Phil Bicknell attending)

West Midlands

November 1 – 7.30pm, Warwick Complex, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG (NFU President Peter Kendall attending)

South West

A number of meetings have already been held in the region although Gloucestershire NFU members are invited to the West Midlands meeting at Stoneleigh Park on November 1 – see above. Updates on the CAP will be presented at the South West annual meetings over the next two months.

East Anglia