Farmers angry over subsidy 'muddle' (From Gazette & Herald)

Farmers angry over subsidy 'muddle'

RURAL leaders claim the Government is rushing through radical countryside reform, leaving thousands of North Yorkshire farmers in a "complete muddle" over vital payments.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is accusing ministers of trying to drive a wedge between sections of the region's farming community by not offering proper consultation on subsidy changes.

EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform has been dubbed the most radical farming change in decades, potentially affecting incomes of 4,000 regional landowners.

CLA Yorkshire director Dorothy Fairburn hit out at the Government's handling of the changes - only agreed in July.

She said: "Astonishingly, this Government is looking for an answer from the country's farmers by October 24."

Calling for a December deadline at the earliest, she added: "Why it is forcing us to decide our fate for the next ten years in such a rush when other EU countries haven't even begun to consult farmers yet?

"Our members in Yorkshire are angry and confused at conflicting reports on whether farm payments will be calculated on a regional or historical basis.

"It's a complete muddle, and the whole consultation process has been put under pressure in a bid to force a settlement which will inevitably cause disruption in the industry, setting landowner against tenant and farmer against farmer."

Farmers claim they are in the dark over changes that will see them switch from receiving payments linked to production, to either flat rate regional handouts or funding tied to past crop growth.

Under the current CAP system, a cereal grower gets £250 a hectare - £25,000 for 100 hectares.

Richard Howard-Vyse, a Ryedale farmer and the president of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: "There's a lot of uncertainty.

"It's extremely difficult to run a business without knowing what the future holds."

Mr Howard-Vyse, who has farmed at Langton since 1971, said he was concerned the new system would not be flexible enough. "I have no idea whether I'd be a winner or a loser."

He added: "The Government has displayed gross ignorance of all things rural."

James Ede, senior food and farming advisor at the National Farmers' Union (NFU), said any new system must have "safety nets" for farmers whose incomes were slashed.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the Government is writing to farmers explaining the changes. Payment details for various growers would be finalised after consultation.

She added: "Consultation has been extended from October 10 to 24 so farmers can take in the new information from the EU." She said the Government had a timetable to meet.

An NFU event at Askham Bryan College, near York, updating farmers on CAP reform will be held on November 13 at 1.30pm and is open to non-members.

Updated: 11:37 Thursday, October 09, 2003