CAP details revealed

SHETLAND MSP Tavish Scott has cautiously welcomed Wednesday’s news on how Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) payments will be made between 2015 and 2020.

But he warned that the devil would be in the details and has asked representative bodies to be involved in the final implementation of the policy in a bid to iron out any problems.

Announcing the package of measures in support of the Scottish farming industry, rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead claimed the package was the “most radical redistribution of CAP payments ever”.

“The measures I am announcing today will target support at genuinely active farmers – including new entrants – as well as specific measures to support Scottish livestock producers and the environment,” the minister said.

He added that as part of additional support for beef producers those on the islands would be eligible for higher coupled support payments than mainland producers, with an uplift of around 65 euros per calf.

“The rural development programme is designed to deliver our key priorities of sustainable economic growth, protecting the environment and tackling climate change, and vibrant rural communities.

“That is why I have increased funding for agri-environment schemes by £10 million per year and maintained budgets for the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS), forestry and LEADER, as well as reinstating a separate capital grant scheme for crofters,” the minister said.

Scott said there was “good news and bad news” in the new CAP.

“An islands beef payment and a Scottish Government U-turn on crofting support are good as is the overall level of payments that will benefit Shetland agriculture.

“But sheep support is a mixed blessing as Shetland crofters have been pressing government to reduce the paperwork, inspections and penalties that farm support has meant.

“The new CAP looks like adding to the burden of paperwork that crofters face,” he said.