Farm payments in excess of €5,000 to be cut by 10%

SINGLE farm payments in excess of €5,000 will be cut 10% by 2012, rising from 5% at present.

It was agreed by EU agriculture ministers in last week’s CAP health check talks that this money, diverted to rural development, may be used in the dairy sector, as well as the proposed uses in climate change, renewable energy, water management, and biodiversity.

Germany, particularly, pushed for rural development cash to support the milk sector.