We are singing from the same hymnsheet says NFUS’s Miller

There was more common ground than areas of disagreement according to National Farmers Union president Nigel Miller when he emerged from an hour and a half’s discussions on CAP reform yesterday morning with UK farm minister Jim Paice.

Miller said it was reassuring for the union to find that the environmental proposals put forward by the European Agricultural Commissioner were also a priority issue for the UK government.

In rejecting the suggestion that 7 per cent of all farm land should be used as “environmental focus areas” as put forward by the commissioner, Miller said there needed to be alternative ways of greening the CAP. He wanted ones that were more pragmatic and effective than those currently on the table.

The union was appreciative of the approach to the issue being made by Defra, the UK government’s department dealing with the CAP, where there would be a more flexible member state or region approach.

Such an approach would take into account positive management practices and environmental work that was already taking place on farms.

“That would be a simpler and more acceptable approach than what is on the table from Europe,” said Miller.

The union also raised its concerns with the minister who will be in the front row during the decision-making process over what is known as the “three crop rule”. This proposal, which aims to increase diversity, would penalise those farmers who grow three crops or less.

According to the union, the proposal was a blunt tool to tackle cropping monocultures and it would be hugely problematic for northern member states, especially those who are livestock-based, like Scotland, where they described the current prescription as overly onerous.

Miller said they wanted Defra to seek alliances with other states throughout Europe prior to the decision to ensure the best CAP package was achieved.

“For Scotland, it may be that the deal involves the retention of a coupling option,” he said. “While that is not a UK priority, it is a Scottish priority – a fact recognised by the minister in our discussions.”