This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Common Agricultural Policy reform
20/02/2004
Implementation of reforms to the Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP) will pave the way for a more sustainable and
vibrant agricultural industry in Scotland, Deputy
Environment and Rural Development Minister Allan Wilson
said today.
Speaking to farmers, Mr Wilson made clear that decisions
on implementation of CAP Reform - announced to Parliament
last week - mark the start of a process.
Further work and continuing close dialogue with the
industry and other interest groups will be key to
delivering a more market responsive and environmentally
sustainable agriculture industry.
Mr Wilson last week announced to Parliament three main
decisions for Scotland:-
- full decoupling with the single farm payment based on
the subsidy reference period 2000 2002 (the historic
basis);
- the use, in principle, of the national envelope
provisions for the beef sector only - to address
environmental enhancement and quality improvement
issues;
- the intention to move the total rate of modulation, EU
compulsory and national combined, to at least 10% by end
2007 - subject to review later this year once the
provisions on match funding are known.
Addressing the Council meeting of NFU Scotland, Mr
Wilson said:-
"Decoupling is the single most important element in the
whole package. It will mean that farmers, instead of
responding to Scheme rules, requirements and constraints,
will now respond to market signals and consumer needs.
This is a key underlying objective of the Agriculture
Strategy and is the way to ensure a sustainable long term
future for agriculture.
Individual farmers will be free to do what they deem
appropriate in their own business circumstances, subject to
meeting environmental and good farming practice standards -
the cross-compliance proposals announced yesterday.. The
public is entitled to expect that the custodians of much of
Scotland's environment are sensitive to their
responsibilities in caring for the land.
"Basing the single farm payment on farmers historic
entitlement does not provide a long term rationale for
agricultural support payments. We plan to review this
decision as soon as EU arrangements permit.
"Final decisions on the shape of the national envelope
scheme for beef will be taken in the light of further
discussions with the industry and other interests, after
the EU implementing legislation has been agreed.
"Modulation, transferring support for production
subsidies to supporting wider rural development objectives,
provides a more sustainable rationale for agricultural
support. It is through well designed rural development
measures that we can target resources to buy the outputs
which society wants.
"The decisions we take together will be key to
delivering an effective support regime. We need to ensure
that we prioritise measures appropriately - to maximise the
outputs we obtain and to develop delivery systems, using
the Land Management Contract model, which ensure wide
accessibility.
"I firmly believe that these decisions will greatly
advance our strategic objectives as set out in both the
Forward Strategy and the Executive's Partnership
Agreement. I believe they will lead to a more sustainable
and vibrant Scottish agriculture."