The Irish Farmers Journal has a headline article of a leaked Department of Agriculture plan for post Brexit agricultural in Northern Ireland. The full document is due out at the end of January 2018.
The article is here, but is behind a paywall. https://www.farmersjournal.ie/post-brexit-agri-plans-revealed-334715
The summary report of the leak is as follows (items in bold are mine for emphasis of some things):-
Firstly short term - 2019 to 2022. This is where the British say that they will mirror CAP. CAP rules will be followed exactly until 2019 when we leave. The suggestion is that we will probably follow CAP entirely during a transition period to 2021. However, entitlements will be converted to Sterling entirely in 2019.
"However, assuming there is some room to make changes from 2020 to 2022, it is understood that current draft proposals include retaining area based payments to active farmers, but ditching greening rules. It would mean the current greening payment is incorporated into the overall BPS."
The current transition to flat rate payments may continue, but this will be left to a Minister (if we ever get one!!).
Longer term - post 2022 when we full leave post any transition period. Four key themes are proposed - increasing productivity, improving resilience, environmental sustainability and an improved supply chain.
"Central to increasing productivity is understood to be farmer education, with an aim already in place that by 2025, everyone who takes over a farm business will have at least a Level III qualification in agricultural. Those who have this level of achievement could be given preferential access to DAERA / CAFRE advice, with a programme of continuous professional development also proposed for farmers." Under this area land tenure will be looked at.
"When it comes to resilience to shocks such as a downturn in markets or bad weather, the draft plan for NI agricultural recognises that continuing with some level of direct payments to farmers is part of the solution."
However it notes "But there is concern that the level of payments actually acts to insulate poor performers against market reality"
"It means that direct payments envisaged post 2022 are at a much lower level than currently, with money instead redirected to increasing productivity (eg through farmer training) and enhancing the environment. It is this latter theme that could lead to the greatest level of change in the industry, with additional payments made to those who follow good environmental practice".
The article is here, but is behind a paywall. https://www.farmersjournal.ie/post-brexit-agri-plans-revealed-334715
The summary report of the leak is as follows (items in bold are mine for emphasis of some things):-
Firstly short term - 2019 to 2022. This is where the British say that they will mirror CAP. CAP rules will be followed exactly until 2019 when we leave. The suggestion is that we will probably follow CAP entirely during a transition period to 2021. However, entitlements will be converted to Sterling entirely in 2019.
"However, assuming there is some room to make changes from 2020 to 2022, it is understood that current draft proposals include retaining area based payments to active farmers, but ditching greening rules. It would mean the current greening payment is incorporated into the overall BPS."
The current transition to flat rate payments may continue, but this will be left to a Minister (if we ever get one!!).
Longer term - post 2022 when we full leave post any transition period. Four key themes are proposed - increasing productivity, improving resilience, environmental sustainability and an improved supply chain.
"Central to increasing productivity is understood to be farmer education, with an aim already in place that by 2025, everyone who takes over a farm business will have at least a Level III qualification in agricultural. Those who have this level of achievement could be given preferential access to DAERA / CAFRE advice, with a programme of continuous professional development also proposed for farmers." Under this area land tenure will be looked at.
"When it comes to resilience to shocks such as a downturn in markets or bad weather, the draft plan for NI agricultural recognises that continuing with some level of direct payments to farmers is part of the solution."
However it notes "But there is concern that the level of payments actually acts to insulate poor performers against market reality"
"It means that direct payments envisaged post 2022 are at a much lower level than currently, with money instead redirected to increasing productivity (eg through farmer training) and enhancing the environment. It is this latter theme that could lead to the greatest level of change in the industry, with additional payments made to those who follow good environmental practice".
My comments - This seems to be a good start to post Brexit agricultural. At least it is a good start to the debate. I await the full proposals in due course!
What do others think??
What do others think??