As CAP reform rolls ever forwards, the debate surrounding ‘slipper’ farming looks set to bring tenancy troubles back to the forefront of the agenda, according to the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association.
With Richard Lochhead’s Review Group standing poised to embark on their task to improve workings in the tenanted sector, the STFA said it believes the “most disturbing news” is the EU Commission’s apparent reluctance to allow a stocking density as a minimum activity requirement.
It said the ‘Scottish Clause’ for a minimum activity level on rough grazings has been enshrined in the proposals from the beginning, and the removal of ‘slipper farming’ has been given a high profile as a Scottish Government priority.
But the Commission has indicated the minimum activity must be an annual activity undertaken by a farmer unrelated to agricultural production or stocking rates, with the rationale being the need to break the link with production to be WTO compliant.
As these threats to the tenanted sector from CAP reform start to unfold, STFA chairman Christopher Nicholson said: “Without stocking as a minimum activity requirement there would appear to be every likelihood the naked acre situation could continue.
“There is even the possibility that the 1.6m hectares not currently receiving single farm payment could be brought into the system thus diluting payments for all.”
He said the outlook for tenancies and new entrants could be bleak if the area- based payments can be accessed without any farming activity.
“Of further concern to the STFA is precisely who will have ‘entitlement’ to future area payments.
“STFA believe that entitlements should be based on activity in 2013, which will help ensure that active farmers are the beneficiaries,” said Mr Nicholson.