EU Member States ask for flexibility on Fallow land
Eleven EU member states are calling for greater “flexibility” in the previously derogated requirement to leave land fallow under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Due to the war in Ukraine and the urgent need to maintain Europe’s food security, the EU Commission agreed to grant member states two yearly derogations to cultivate this set-aside land in 2022 and 2023.
However the EU’s agricultural regulations say that derogations can only be made for 1 year and a further derogation for 2024 was rejected in August meaning fallow land will need to be used as such in 2024.
The proposal is asking that cross-compliance be maintained, but only catch crops and nitrogen-fixing crops would be required to meet the 7% biodiversity-friendly elements. Currently only 4% of the 7% can be used in this way with the remaining 3% remaining as fallow land.
England introduces fund for small abattoirs
Smaller abattoirs in England will be able to apply for capital grants through a new £4 million fund designed to boost the sector.
Rising operating costs including the cost of disposal of animal by-products has meant there has been a large decline in the number of operational smaller abattoirs in recent years. Between 2018 and 2022 smaller red meat abattoirs have declined by around 25% and smaller poultry abattoirs have declined by around 40%.
Through the Smaller Abattoir Fund, grants of between £2,000 and £60,000 are available to English abattoirs at an 40% intervention rate.
Bluetongue cases continue to rise
Following active surveillance within the temporary control zone (TCZ), further cases of BTV 3 have been identified taking the total number of cases to 11 on 6 different premises in England.
Cases were discovered for the first time in the UK since 2007 on a farm near Canterbury in Kent on 11 November.
The TCZ has been extended to cover the North and East coasts of Kent. Extending the TCZ helps ensure effective surveillance and minimise the spread of the disease. All cases have been or will be humanely culled to minimise any risk of onward transmission.