Breadcrumbs
Comment on Single Farm Payment - 12 February 2004
We must have meaningful cross-compliance says Countryside Agency chairman Sir Ewen Cameron, commenting on today's announcement by Government on the Single Farm Payment (SFP).
"The Single Farm Payment could have some environmental benefits by encouraging farmers to farm less intensively. But it is important that the required cross-compliance measures ensure that the large sums of public money, going into agriculture, produce some real social and environmental benefits.
“The Single Farm Payment should encourage farmers to become more market oriented, exploiting new opportunities, for example to provide local food.
"But it is important that all aspects of the application of Single Farm Payment are monitored carefully by Government to ensure that public money delivers a truly sustainable agricultural industry.”
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Notes to editors:
For interviews or more information contact Countryside Agency press office on 020 7340 2906.
The Countryside Agencyis the statutory body
working to make the quality of life better for people in the
countryside and the quality of the countryside better for
everyone www.countryside.gov.uk
Single Farm Payment (SFP) is to be paid to farmers from next year,
replacing production- related subsidies, and is an important step
forward in delivering the reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy
agreed last year.
In return for the single farm payment, farmers will have to manage their land to keep it in 'good agricultural and environmental condition’, know as cross-compliance.
