Devil will be in the detail of new Common Agricultural Policy package

Farmers and crofters in the Highlands & Islands region will need to see more detail from the Scottish Government on its proposed new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support package and how it will be implemented before being able to assess its full impact on their individual circumstances, according to Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor.

Jamie yesterday questioned the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead, on the new package when Mr Lochhead made a statement to Parliament on the subject yesterday.

Commenting today Jamie, who is also Convenor of the Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Crofting, said:

“ As I made clear to the Cabinet Secretary yesterday, many farmers will be disappointed at the low payment of only €10 per ha for LFASS category A land- a great % of the land in the Highlands & Islands- which was the very lowest figure suggested in the consultation. Even when this payment is underpinned by the ewe coupled payment of €25 it will leave many producers facing real challenges.

“ Some producers in this region might also struggle to access the coupled ewe payment if they are participating in environmental schemes designed to keep sheep density down on parts of their land. Does the payment include ewe hoggs which are a major part of hefted sheep herds?

“ It is also vital, as I argued yesterday, that this ewe scheme- which we support- involves the minimum of bureaucracy and that the government works with organisations like the National Sheep Association and breed associations to achieve this. Some sheep producers are genuinely worried that the scheme might generate a flood of extra inspections and extra cross-compliance measures.

“ In terms of other measures, I am encouraged by the extra coupled support payment for calves on our islands which is a boost to island producers. I also welcome the announcement that a separate capital grant scheme for crofters will be reinstated.

“ Farmers and crofters in my region will look forward to having more detail from the Scottish Government on all of the many measures announced yesterday as they assess how the new CAP system will impact on their businesses; as always, for many the changes will bring new and additional challenges while there will also be some who gain and the devil will be in the detail of implementation.”