REFERENDUM D-day is almost upon us.

The highly variable levels of debate will continue right up to voting on June 23, and like a lot of farmers I have been listening to the professional forecasts of what will happen to us in either event.

Currently, we are cosily protected from any diminuation in our subsidies via the strength of the more militant French over the Channel and it is always tempting to stick with what you know.

With still another week to go I haven’t yet posted my ballot paper, but I am beginning to be swayed by two points of principle which have little to do with the economy or immigration:

• Is the European disease curable?

We have a dominant bureaucracy in Brussels from which is unleashed thousands of often mindless directives with which its long-suffering citizens are often incapable of complying.

The basic problem is that the political alliance of states is meant to be in charge through its parliament but because of the disparate nature of the 28 nations, it is not strong enough to exercise control over Brussels.

It is to my mind simply true that David Cameron came back with a bad deal but it was probably as good as he could get because there is no will or capability in the rest of the EU for a change.

We are therefore being condemned to leave a legacy to our children of a European Union largely out of control and probably headed towards break up eventually.

Unless somebody tells me differently, I can’t see the European disease being curable.

• If we were not already a member of the EU would we vote to join it today?

Never mind our different currency, the economic crisis in Europe is deeper than imagined and many believe the fall of the Euro is not far away.

If we conclude that we would not join Europe today then consistency dictates we should vote to leave.


BPS update

THE last day for amendments to the 2016 applications expired on June 10, but here is an update on what else is happening:

• EU Agriculture Minister Phil Hogan has reluctantly acknowledged the 2015 shambles by allowing the payment date to be extended to the October 15.

He says this is due to unexpected difficulties that have arisen in member states but these have been entirely created by his department in Brussels, which whilst claiming to make the scheme simpler, ended up with something almost unworkable.

• Be very careful if transferring land after May 16 as there are serious implications for both parties.

Firstly, the buyer or transferee has to be a farmer carrying out an agricultural activity.

This may seem very simplistic but if he does not qualify then there are severe penalties which will then be imposed.

Secondly, you need to be careful over the greening requirements and cross compliance which must continue until the end of the calendar year.

It is relatively simple but essential to include a clause in any document which requires the person taking the entitlements to comply with the BPS regulations.