Following NFU requests, Defra have updated their Q&A /guidance to farmers about how transition to the next Rural Development Programme (RDP) will work and, in particular, what will happen to current agri-environment agreements which continue into the next RDP. The next RDP is due to start from 1 January 2014 and run until 2020.
The position with ELS/OELS and Uplands ELS agreements which start in 2012/13 is now clear in respect of changes to the legal requirements for the next RDP. However, all agreements may be affected by changes, such as Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) “greening‟ and cross compliance, which are emerging as part of the current CAP negotiations. In the absence of legal agreement at a European level, Defra cannot provide legal certainty to farmers about changes to agreements as a result of “greening‟ or changes to cross compliance.
Aware of NFUs’ concerns, on 12 December Jim Paice, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, pledged to make sure that English farmers who are thinking about entering or renewing agri-environment agreements can choose to opt out of their agreements without penalty if they have to make changes to their agreements as a result of CAP greening. He said “We’ll do everything we possibly can to make sure farmers aren’t disadvantaged because of having been ahead of the game on environmental management. We’ve already told the Commissioner about this a number of times, and it seems he’s listening to our concerns”.
Headline Messages for Agreement Holders
For agreement holders the advice from Defra on the potential impact of CAP reform is as follows. Please refer to Defra’s Q&A for more detail:
• All ELS/OELS/Uplands ELS/HLS/CSS or ESA agreements which started before 1 January 2012 will not be affected by the new RDP requirements but may have to be adjusted to meet changes in cross compliance/‟greening‟ requirements.
• If your ELS/OELS/Uplands ELS agreements starts on or after 1 January 2012 it will need to be adjusted to fit with any new requirements of the next RDP and may also have to be adjusted to meet changes in cross compliance/‟greening‟ requirements.
• HLS agreements, or any underpinning ELS/OELS/Uplands ELS agreements, which start before 1 January 2014 will be unaffected by changes under the new RDP but may have to be adjusted to meet changes in cross compliance/‟greening‟ requirements.
No comments have been made.