MAFF REQUESTS IACS FLEXIBILITY AFTER NFU
REPRESENTATIONS
The Government is seeking flexibility on the
operation of the Arable Area Payments Scheme following a request from the NFU
to help farmers whose normal use of land has been disrupted by foot and mouth
restrictions.
Many farmers have animals on fields where they would not normally be because
they have been unable to move them since the foot and mouth outbreak began.
The NFU has been pressing MAFF to seek the changes to the scheme to relieve
some of the pressure on farmers caught up in the restrictions. It is hoped that
the necessary rule changes will be agreed at the European Commission's Cereals
Management Committee on 26 April.
MAFF is seeking a derogation to enable farmers to sow crops up until 15 June
under the scheme.
The requested changes also include an extension of the regulations allowing
animals to graze set aside land until 31 August 2001 and to graze declared
cropped areas without losing their right to an area payment.
The Commission has also been asked to confirm MAFF's interpretation that it is
acceptable for farmers to take cuts from set aside land to feed animals
elsewhere on the farm, either directly or after conversion to hay or silage.
NFU Vice President Michael Paske said: "Throughout the whole foot and
mouth disaster we have relied upon a flexible interpretation of the rules on
schemes like AAPS to alleviate the pressure on farmers who are coping with the
restrictions placed upon them.
"It is good news that MAFF has listened to our concerns and has submitted
a request to Europe. The Commission must now act to help alleviate the very
real problems we are facing."
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