EU adopts proposal to exempt small farmers from crop diversification and rotation rules

Small tillage farmers with holdings below 30ha will be exempt from GAEC 7 regulations in 2026, following an approved proposal to the CAP simplification package

MEP Maria Walsh submitted an amendment to the European Commission’s agricultural simplification package to protect smaller farmers from overly cumbersome GAEC 7 regulations.

Farmers with holdings below 30 hectares will be exempt from GAEC 7 controls and penalties.

The announcement follows the approval of the amendment as part of a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) simplification proposal.