NFU slams set-aside ruling

THE NFU has said it will challenge DEFRA’s decision not to let farmers claim force majeure if they put extra land into set-aside because they lost their animals to foot-and-mouth in 2001.

Union president Tim Bennett said between 50 and 150 farmers were facing a larger set-aside requirement than appropriate because so much of their land was now classified as arable.

Mr Bennett told FARMERS WEEKLY that the union had always insisted that these farmers should be covered by force majeure arrangements, but DEFRA had confirmed on Fri (May 6) that they would not be.

“These people took a kicking in 2001 and now they are having another kicking,” said Mr Bennett.

“We are bitterly disappointed with this decision and we are seeking a meeting with the EU Commission on it.”

Mr Bennett added that he saw wider implications for the farming community.

“If this is a sign of the inflexibility we are going to be facing after May 16, then I am worried. Common sense and reasonable decisions need to prevail, but they have failed on the first test.”