Keeping CAP Health Check on Track for Farmers

SCOTLAND, UK - NFU Scotland has refreshed its appeal to ensure that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) continues to deliver for Scotland’s farmers and crofters.
calendar icon 8 September 2008
clock icon 2 minute read

The comments come in NFU Scotland’s response to the Scottish Government consultation about implementing Europe’s CAP Health Check proposals in Scotland and the long-term future of the regime.

NFUS President, Jim McLaren said:


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"The long-term aim of the CAP must be to address that failure and properly recognise all the benefits that active farming generates."
NFUS President, Jim McLaren

“In agriculture you are always planning for the future. It is not an industry that can be turned off and on at the turn of a switch. I therefore welcome that the Scottish Government is considering not just the here and now of the CAP Health Check but also what sort of CAP we need for Scotland in the future.

“The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was established to secure the availability of food at reasonable prices, to deliver stable markets and to ensure fair living standards for farmers. These aims still ring true at a time when food security is no longer guaranteed, product output is falling and Scottish farm returns are diminishing.

“At present, the prices obtained from the market for production in virtually all agricultural sectors does not provide a sufficient return for long-term farm business profitability and viability. The long-term aim of the CAP must be to address that failure and properly recognise all the benefits that active farming generates.”

“Part of that debate will be the way support is delivered in Scotland. The historic system is generally working well. This system needs evolution not revolution to ensure that in the future, support is targeted at those who are actively producing food. What we will not support is any move to a single flat rate payment across Scotland and a dismantling of the good work that the current single farm payment (SFP) system is delivering.

“We need to use the opportunity granted by the CAP health check, examine the options available and ensure that the CAP is fit for purpose in Scotland.”

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