Video: Truss responds to criticism of CAP reform implementation

Defra secretary Liz Truss insists she is trying to make life easier for farmers by building “as much flexibility as possible” into the new payments system following CAP reform.

See also: Defra secretary sets out CAP latest

In her first major interview with the farming press, Ms Truss said she was seeking a reasonable approach from Brussels as farmers adjusted to the new scheme.

“We are trying to put as much flexibility in the system as possible,” she told Farmers Weekly.

“In terms of the crop diversification rules, we have got a fixed window of inspections by the Rural Payments Agency but we want to allow exceptions outside that for speciality crop growers.”

The full interview will be published in Farmers Weekly this Friday (22 August).