As I approach decision time on how to implement the new Cap in Scotland, I am being lobbied hard by many different sectors all making strong cases to be prioritised.
For example, I have been told by some that the Scottish Government’s proposed payment rate for rough grazing is too high and by others that it’s too low.
I have been asked by many for area-based payments to come in on day one of the new Cap and by many for a slower transition.
I have had calls to do more than the minimum greening requirements to increase environmental benefits whilst others insist there should be no gold-plating.
Clearly, the decisions I face are extremely difficult. They have been made more so because of the very poor Cap budget negotiated for Scotland by the UK Government. I’m left implementing a smaller budget whilst other nations are investing bigger budgets in their sectors.
As well as a smaller budget we also have mandatory deductions and are moving from historic to area payments with limited options for linking payments to production.
Just this week I received confirmation that I can use up to 13% of Scotland’s budget for coupled schemes.
This gives me the clarity I need to take the final decisions – and the feedback I have had is that a coupled support scheme has its drawbacks as well as benefits, but may be a better way to support active farmers on rough grazing land than a third payment region.
I am determined to tackle slipper farming, and the new Cap contains measures – including the Scottish clause – to ensure only active farmers receive support. However, the smaller Scottish budget means I am unable to tie payments to activity as much as I would have liked and that’s why the biggest challenge we face is delivering the right levels of support for the appropriate levels of activity and not over compensating less active enterprises.
I have always been clear that Scotland needs a Cap that supports active farming and food production, as well as responsible land use, and that we need to strike the right balance between flexibility and simplicity.
Our three consultations on Cap reform generated well over a thousand responses.
I am currently holding a final, intensive programme of industry stakeholder meetings to ensure all views are heard I announce the final package next month.