Frequently Asked Questions
These frequently asked questions are general rather than specific questions about CAP Reform.
If you have a specific query, please refer to the eleven information leaflets which have been issued or to the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) Notes for Guidance.
Alternatively contact your Area Office or the Single Farm Payment Scheme helpline on 0131 244 4488.
Q1.Why has the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) been reformed?
Q2.How will this be achieved?
Q3.Do all Member States have to adopt the same system?
Q4.What options have been adopted for Scotland?
Q5.Who is eligible for the Single Farm Payment?
Q6.How is the SFPS calculated?
Q7.When does the SFPS start?
Q8.When is the closing date for SFPS applications?
Q9.When will payments be made?
Q10.What is expected in return for payment under the Single Farm Payment Scheme?
Q11.Are producers still expected to keep some land in set-aside?
Q12.What is the aim of the Farm Advisory System (FAS)?
Q13.What are the arrangements for FAS? Is it on a "first come, first served" basis?
Q14.How does FAS fit in with other advisory arrangements?
Q15.When does FAS start?
Q16.Is FAS compulsory?
CAP Reform Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why has the Common Agricultural Policy been reformed?
The aim is to promote a market-focussed, sustainable agricultural system throughout Europe.
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Q2. How will this be achieved?
The package of measures will fundamentally change the basis of support for agriculture. The key reform involves breaking the link between farm subsidies and production with the introduction of the Single Farm Payment (SFP), this process is known as de-coupling. It will remove the incentive to increase production to secure additional subsidies, which can result in damage to the environment.
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Q3. Do all Member States have to adopt the same system?
Certain aspects of the reform measures can be implemented differently at Member State level (UK) and also regionally (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) within the Member State. The Scottish Executive has consulted widely on the choices available in Scotland.
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Q4. What options have been adopted for Scotland?
Following an extensive consultation process the Scottish Executive has decided to adopt the following:
- To fully decouple all the existing direct payments within SFP from production.
- To calculate the SFP on an 'historic payments' basis.
- To make use of a 'beef national envelope' (Scottish Beef Calf Scheme)
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Q5. Who is eligible for the Single Farm Payment?
Farmers and crofters are eligible for the Single Farm Payment Scheme if they received payments under any of the direct support schemes in any of the calendar years 2000, 2001 and/or 2002.
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Q6. How is the SFPS calculated?
The SFP is the average historic farming activity in the reference period (2000 to 2002) multiplied by rates specified in Council Regulation (EC) 1782/2003, then divided by three. (It is not calculated by the average of amounts paid in each of those years.) This value is called a Payment Entitlement. The number of entitlements equals the number of hectares in the reference period.
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Q7. When does the SFPS start?
The scheme year follows the calendar year: the first year will run from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005.
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Q8. When is the closing date for SFPS applications?
The last day of receipt of applications is 15 May each year.
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Q9. When will payments be made?
Council Regulation (EC) 1782/2003 states that payments under the Single Farm Payment Scheme must be made between 1 December and 30 June of the following year.
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Q10. What is expected in return for payment under the Single Farm Payment Scheme?
Farmers and crofters must maintain their land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) and respect regulations relating to public, animal and plant health, environmental protection and animal welfare.
To be eligible for the SFPS, eligible hectares must satisfy two conditions:
- The land must be used for arable land or permanent pasture (including common and shared grazings); and
- The land must have been at the claimant's disposal for at least 10 months.
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Q11. Are producers still expected to keep some land in set-aside?
Yes. Producers who had set-aside land in the reference period have been allocated set-aside entitlements.
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Farm Advisory System
Q12. What is the aim of the Farm Advisory System (FAS)?
The aim will be to make available to farmers and crofters a source of advice on land and farm management. The range of advice offered will, at a minimum, cover the requirements to maintain land in good agricultural and environmental condition and respect regulations relating to public, animal and plant health, environmental protection and animal welfare.
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Q13. What are the arrangements for FAS? Is it on a "first come, first served" basis?
The details of FAS are still to be worked out. We will be obliged, however, under the terms of Council Regulation (EC) 1782/2003 to give priority to those farmers and crofters who receive more than €15,000 in direct payments (principally the SFPS).
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Q14. How does FAS fit in with other advisory arrangements?
We have a National Strategy for Farm Business Advice and Skills, as part of that we ran a Whole Farm Review (WFR) pilot scheme. As a result, it is planned to rollout the WFR Scheme over the course of 2004 and consideration will be given as to how the FAS can compliment this and other advisory methods.
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Q15. When does FAS start?
At the latest, the service will be available by 1 January 2007.
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Q16. Is FAS compulsory?
No, participation by farmers and crofters is voluntary.
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