Farmers warned on farm payments

Farmers were warned at the Agricultural Science Association conference in Waterford yesterday they could face the loss or reduction of their single farm payment if they fail to respect environmental and other laws.

Michael Hamell of the European Commission, said CAP reform to apply from 2005 onwards removes many constraints on farmers designed in previous reforms.

Most commentators have concentrated on this aspect of reform and belatedly complained that a new burden of cross compliance will replace perceived old burdens.

It must be stressed that farmers will be supported directly through the single payment scheme as a political decision in the CAP rather than for fulfilling cross-compliance.

“Farmers are not paid to respect environmental and other legislation but if they don’t respect that part encompassed through cross-compliance they render themselves subject to reduction or cancellation of direct payments,“ he said.

Mr Hamell said the competent national authority in each member state is obliged to provide the farmer with the list of statutory management requirements and good agricultural and environmental conditions to be respected.

Mr Hamell also told the conference derogations above the 170kg manure limit in the nitrates directive are possible, based on certain objective criteria.

He said to date only Denmark has achieved a derogation (temporary) to the 170kg limitations to the level of 230kg. This is for individual farmers with more than 70% of their lands under crops with a long growing season.