i) Welsh Government answer raises concerns over future spending
In response to a recent question asked by Shadow Agricultural Spokesman Llyr Huws Grufydd with regard to the funding committed to the RDP Sustainable Management Scheme, Welsh Government clarified that £2,836,260 (18%) and £13,092,091 (82%) of the total funding is spent on capital and revenue (i.e. salaries etc) respectively.
In light of the ongoing Sustainable Farming and our Land: Simplifying Agricultural Support consultation, this clarity raises major concern as to how the future funding for agriculture will be distributed and who will benefit.
ii) Scotland scraps three crop greening requirements
The passing of the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill has provided Scotland with the power to simplify and improve the administration of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes.
Scottish Government has since confirmed that the £130 million Greening scheme will be simplified from 2021 onwards, removing the three-crop rule altogether and retaining Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) in the short term. The permanent grassland option will remain.
Similar proposals form part of the Welsh Government’s Simplifying Agricultural Support consultation.
iii) Defra publishes latest licences for badger control in England
In continuing with the long term strategy for tackling Bovine TB which began in 2014, Natural England and Defra have published the latest licences for areas that will undertake badger control activities in England this year.
The licences and supporting documentation for the reauthorised 33 existing and 11 new areas can be viewed here.