UK Government rejects Scottish calls for CAP budget increase

[Walterp]

Hmm, lets see, the average EU farm size is 12 hectares, which makes that Maltese guy look pretty poor in comparison with the bloke in the kilt, who is trousering it (don't worry about it, it's a metaphorical reference) with one of the biggest average farm sizes in the EU.

Although in theory the Czech Republic has the biggest average farm size (137 HA) this is a bit misleading, because the UK's figures are averaged down through smaller English farm size - if you take the Scots alone (which is, perhaps, where they want to be) then their average farm size is 250HA; the biggest by far.

Their nearest opposite number is the Czechs, who get a bit more per hectare but are on less acreage.

Question: does this mean that the average Scots farmer is, already, the biggest SFP claimant in the entire EU?

Supplementary: if so, why are they complaining about this?

What? They want more? Really?

Blimey!

 

[IANTO]

Thank you it's raining and cold here so time to sit and exchange views. I'm keen to hear whether our sister Nations have an understanding of the land use challenges for Scottish Farmers and how they view the decision by Westminster to with hold the EU uplift from Scotland.

I doubt if you will get much sympathy from the other regions.

Wales is at a disadvantage under the Barnet Formula, whereby the devolved administrations are allocated their Block Grant by Westminster. If it was adjusted to reflect what is equitable, Scotland would be the biggest loser, and are therefore against any change. You cannot have the penny and the bun.

The whole CAP system as administered by Westminster, is unfair to some extent, as it does not take into account the relative productivity of land in the different regions. The only part of England that can be compared with large areas of Scotland and Snowdonia and other parts of Wales, (Don't know enough about the Geography of NI to comment.) is in Cumbria. Many (In the other countries that constitute the UK.) farming or scrapping a living from marginal land, would consider Exmoor, Dartmoor and the Yorkshire Moors as Grade 1 land, compared to their own.

But then you have to consider, that (I understand) the statistics are based purely on the Land Mass, and Scotland has vast areas of Islands, Rocky Islets, Crags, Mountain and Scree Slopes, (Much more than any other region.) that cannot produce anything. It would be interesting to know what the average SFP per hectare of land actually farmed (And not simply primarily for Grouse Shooting or Deer Stalking, who keep a few sheep to qualify for SFP.) actually is.

Then you have to consider, that CAP is not there to support Food Production, but the Rural Economy, and Vast Areas of Scotland have little or no population, and comparatively few of the local population benefit in any way from the CAP. Tourism is more important than Agriculture.

Finally (correct me if I am wrong) that "farm size" varies dramatically, from the Lairds who own thousands of acres, and produce very little, but SFP, to the Crofters on the Islands, where their few acres is not their main employment, but does supplement their income, and therefore helps to reduce Rural Depopulation.

The CAP reforms agreed, (The CAP on payments to any one business.) if properly implemented, I would suggest could result in a redistribution of SFP to where it can do most good.

I will probably stir up a hornets nest with these comments.

 

[DrDunc]

Here's a radical idea to subsidise fairly based upon productive capacity of the land area.......



Why doesn't the direct pillar one support be based upon the stock and crop actually produced by a farm? Thus livestock units on the holding could be used to calculate the subsidy level. Crops grown would qualify for another level of support. Additional support could be offered for poorer areas. A calculation for extensive stocking density could be used.

Surely this is far fairer to everyone and would stop the slipper farming lairds? .........




Oh, here wait a minute......... Oh