George Eustice's announcement "The path to sustainable farming." 2021-2024

[Sid]

Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024

Our plans for agriculture in England from 1 January 2021, with an update for January 2024.

www.gov.uk

 

[Johnnyboxer]

The first paragraph

On 1 January 2021 the agricultural transition period will start. Between 2021 and 2027, we will gradually reduce and then stop untargeted Direct Payments.
We will invest the money that we free up to support agriculture in different ways.
We will pay farmers1 to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare, and reduce carbon emissions.

 

[JP1]

The first paragraph

On 1 January 2021 the agricultural transition period will start. Between 2021 and 2027, we will gradually reduce and then stop untargeted Direct Payments.
We will invest the money that we free up to support agriculture in different ways.
We will pay farmers1 to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare, and reduce carbon emissions.

On the radio this morning he had to admit sheep prices will head South if there's no deal

 

[Tarw Coch]

Having read some of it, and skim read some more, I’m not sure I’ve actually learnt anything new.
Current payments are to be phased out to be replaced with new payments linked to such things as the environment and animal welfare...... new all that before, have I missed anything new?

 

[JP1]

Having read some of it, and skim read some more, I’m not sure I’ve actually learnt anything new.
Current payments are to be phased out to be replaced with new payments linked to such things as the environment and animal welfare...... new all that before, have I missed anything new?

• Welfare labelling of food consultation
• Lump sum exit scheme
• Dairy contracts reform (return of a newco MMB?)
• National action plan on the sustainable use of pesticides
• Designing a domestic regime for producer organisations

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

I’m not sure I’ve actually learnt anything new.

It's not news to us, but it's now being released out to the general public (quite a lengthy piece on BBC Breakfast today).

The devil will be in the detail.

Will payments be sufficient to compensate for lost earnings?
Will it be a broad scheme with lots of boxes to tick or a series of smaller individual payments for specific items?

 

[DrWazzock]

A bit of a crusade. And when they got to Jerusalem they couldn't find a problem......so they killed them all anyway.

 

[delilah]

• Welfare labelling of food consultation
• Lump sum exit scheme
• Dairy contracts reform (return of a newco MMB?)
• National action plan on the sustainable use of pesticides
• Designing a domestic regime for producer organisations

could you give a couple of sentences on what points 3 and 5 are about pls.

 

[Tarw Coch]

• Welfare labelling of food consultation
• Lump sum exit scheme
• Dairy contracts reform (return of a newco MMB?)
• National action plan on the sustainable use of pesticides
• Designing a domestic regime for producer organisations

But what does it all mean? No details, realistically we are still none the wiser.........or at least I’m not

 

[JP1]

could you give a couple of sentences on what points 3 and 5 are about pls.

Consultations

Animal welfare A consultation on welfare labelling is being prepared. The responses will inform the next stages of the work on consumer transparency.

Slurry By spring 2021 we will consult 2021 on legislation to introduce increased capacity requirements for slurry stores

Delinked payments and lump sum exit scheme We intend to consult on a proposed lump sum exit scheme and the approach to delinked payments.

Pesticides A consultation on our draft National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides will be published shortly. The responses to this will be considered as we finalise the Action Plan, which will set out our approach to support the uptake of Integrated Pest Management and ensure safe and sustainable use of pesticides.

Dairy contracts Between June and September 2020, a consultation was undertaken on the need for contract reform in the UK dairy sector. A summary of responses, outlining the findings, will be published early next year.

Producer organisations The Agriculture Act 2020 contains powers to design a domestic regime for recognising Producer Organisations. A public consultation on the future of Producer Organisations will be carried out in 2021.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

But what does it all mean? No details, realistically we are still none the wiser.........or at least I’m not

The great thing about waffley, vague management-speak is that it says something but without really saying anything, so it buys the author time to fabricate the actual detail at a later date.

 

[delilah]

Consultations

Animal welfare A consultation on welfare labelling is being prepared. The responses will inform the next stages of the work on consumer transparency.

Slurry By spring 2021 we will consult 2021 on legislation to introduce increased capacity requirements for slurry stores

Delinked payments and lump sum exit scheme We intend to consult on a proposed lump sum exit scheme and the approach to delinked payments.

Pesticides A consultation on our draft National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides will be published shortly. The responses to this will be considered as we finalise the Action Plan, which will set out our approach to support the uptake of Integrated Pest Management and ensure safe and sustainable use of pesticides.

Dairy contracts Between June and September 2020, a consultation was undertaken on the need for contract reform in the UK dairy sector. A summary of responses, outlining the findings, will be published early next year.

Producer organisations The Agriculture Act 2020 contains powers to design a domestic regime for recognising Producer Organisations. A public consultation on the future of Producer Organisations will be carried out in 2021.

meetings about meetings then lol.

 

[nelly55]

Let’s all put fields to parkland,kill all livestock and take a lump sum,is that it in a nutshell.The world must be rubbing their hands at the money they are going to make selling us food.Yes things need to change but time they got people to advise them who haven’t a hidden agenda.Off to hug a bunny.

 

[DrWazzock]

For me it comes down to either plant a wood or carry on without the sub.
We have had 20 plus years of environmental schemes: they are complex to administer and don't deliver a great deal as far as I can see, other than maybe in certain specific target landscapes that lend themselves to that kind of thing. I really can't see broad acre arable land offering much value of any kind in an "environmental scheme". Grassland, managed extensively provides considerable environmental value as does low intensity livestock but they don't like livestock so seem to have their knickers in a right old twist.
Keeping my head down and carrying on as best I see fit. If there is a simple scheme I might join but if it involves too much hassle then I'm not interested.
Really quite sick of all that. Plant a few trees, put in 5 acres of bird strips for the shooters, maybe gap up a hedge or two, maybe keep some low intensity grassland for a few cattle or sheep, keep the pesticides to the minimum. I can do that without getting bogged down in red tape or requiring payments with all the strings attached. Do I really need paying for it? Well the shooters will pay for the bird strips and the grass looks nice if there isn't too much of it so crack on.

 

[Tarw Coch]

The great thing about waffley, vague management-speak is that it says something but without really saying anything, so it buys the author time to fabricate the actual detail at a later date.

Yep, that’s what I thought it said, I was hoping that someone more intelligent than me could find some substance amongst it all.

 

[delilah]

sat here on hold so thought may as well look at the bloody thing. this is the bit to major on, imo.


3.3 Supply chain and food policies
As well as reforming agricultural policy, we want to improve the position of farmers in the markets they buy and sell in. We will use powers in the Agriculture Act 2020 to address market failures that have led to farmers having a weaker position in the supply chain. We have consulted on mandatory dairy contracts and will act to ensure that trading practices are fair for farmers in all sectors.
18
The National Food Strategy interim report was published in July 2020; Part 2 will be published in 2021. This independent review has highlighted the connection between environmentally sustainable farming and an effective food supply chain. We are committed to continual improvement in our agricultural and food policies and will update our objectives if necessary.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Let’s all put fields to parkland,kill all livestock and take a lump sum,is that it in a nutshell.

Only if it's going to pay the bills.

The alternative is to tell them where to stick their environmental payments and use modern intensive methods to produce as much food as possible to pay the bills, without being owned by people with clipboards who need their boxes ticked.

The obstacle will arise when FA schemes and retailers want their producers to be taking these environmental payments (even though retailers will still import from abroad).

 

[DrWazzock]

But what does it all mean? No details, realistically we are still none the wiser.........or at least I’m not

We won't get any BPS after 2024. The are ramping it down to that point.
After that date you will need to enter a scheme to get anything substantial. Nobody really knows what these schemes will entail but looks like they are shaping up to be royal PITA.
You might get a small amount for a box ticking scheme for doing stuff we already do like like not threshing birds nests with the bomford.
There could be golden retirement package in 2022 which means my 90 year old mate will carry on wandering through the nettlebeds for a couple more years so he doesn't miss out.
Yeah mostly waffle and a wander into the mists.

 

[Tarw Coch]

sat here on hold so thought may as well look at the bloody thing. this is the bit to major on, imo.


3.3 Supply chain and food policies
As well as reforming agricultural policy, we want to improve the position of farmers in the markets they buy and sell in. We will use powers in the Agriculture Act 2020 to address market failures that have led to farmers having a weaker position in the supply chain. We have consulted on mandatory dairy contracts and will act to ensure that trading practices are fair for farmers in all sectors.
18
The National Food Strategy interim report was published in July 2020; Part 2 will be published in 2021. This independent review has highlighted the connection between environmentally sustainable farming and an effective food supply chain. We are committed to continual improvement in our agricultural and food policies and will update our objectives if necessary.

Hmmmm , it’s some years since Tony Blair said of the supermarkets that he knew they’d got you guys in a headlock, not a lot has changed

The devil will be in the details but actions speak louder than words.....I still don’t know what it all means

 

[Tarw Coch]

We won't get any BPS after 2024. The are ramping it down to that point.
After that date you will need to enter a scheme to get anything substantial. Nobody really knows what these schemes will entail but looks like they are shaping up to be royal PITA.
You might get a small amount for a box ticking scheme for doing stuff we already do like like not threshing birds nests with the bomford.
There could be golden retirement package in 2022 which means my 90 year old mate will carry on wandering through the nettlebeds for a couple more years so he doesn't miss out.
Yeah mostly waffle and a wander into the mists.

We allready knew bps was going to be phased out to be replaced by some schemes,