Doubts on EU farm shake-up to help wildlife

The European Commission is set to announce proposals for reforming subsidies to farmers, and is pledging to “green” the system in a bid to legitimise the spending of billions of pounds a year in taxpayers’ money.

But UK officials are concerned the measures likely to be unveiled, including a return to leaving land fallow as “set-aside”, ensuring a mix of different crops on each farm and preventing permanent pastures being ploughed up, will not work.

Conservation campaigners are also concerned changes to the system will make the situation worse for nature, with potentially less money for wildlife-friendly farming.

The RSPB welcomed suggestions there could be a return to setting land aside for nature, but warned it could not be a substitute for agri-environmental schemes, whose funding could be squeezed by the proposals.

It is estimated the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which at £47bn last year accounted for almost half the EU budget, costs every person in the UK £107 a year in taxes to pay subsidies and increased food costs.

The UK Government wants to see a move away from direct payments to support farmers towards a greater focus on delivering environmental improvements in the countryside and making farmers more competitive. Currently three-quarters of the money in the CAP budget is handed out in direct payments to farmers, and under the plans for reform this week, the Commission is expected to focus on “greening” a share of that money.

Leaks suggest, 30 per cent of the direct payments will be dependent on steps including leaving seven per cent of land “set-aside” without crops on it, ensuring arable farms grow at least three crops and ensuring permanent pasture is maintained.

Whitehall officials said the proposals aimed to improve the environment but they were “not convinced” benefits would be delivered by imposing pan-European measures. They believe active management of land, for example by sowing strips around the side of fields with plants that provide food for wildlife, is far better than set-aside and fear farmers may try to plough up pasture before the new rules come in.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: “We’re in a situation where there are global problems with food security, economic uncertainty and the loss of biodiversity. Reforming the CAP is the best opportunity in a generation to take a major step forward in dealing with all of these problems. But we’re worried that the Commission’s proposals will be far too backward-looking and this precious opportunity will be lost.”