DEFRA tells farmers to keep the same number of set-aside acres for 2006

DEFRA has announced that for the 2006 scheme year, farmers in England will be required to set-aside the same amount of land that they were obliged to in 2005.

In 2005, farmers applying to the scheme were required to calculate their set-aside obligation according to formula based on the eligible arable area on their holding.

But DEFRA has said there is no need for farmers to undertake any such calculation in 2006.

Instead, farmers should set-aside the same area of land in each region (lowland, SDA or moorland) that they were obliged to in 2005, irrespective of whether the amount of eligible arable land on their holding has changed.

It had been thought that the government would adjust the 2006 rate slightly, once the 2005 single farm payment claims were fully verified.

But junior DEFRA minister Lord Bach has revealed that the figures are not yet ready.

“I am only able to act on the basis of the provisional data currently available, and have therefore decided that there should be no change to farmers’ set-aside obligation for 2006,” he said.

“Once we have fully validated data available in the next few months, if there is any scope for reduction in the set-aside rates, I will ensure that this is fully explored immediately and that any announcement is made as quickly as possible.”

Once the data on 2005 SPS applications are fully verified, farmers will be allocated a fixed number of entitlements including, where appropriate, a number of set-aside entitlements.

The number of those set-aside entitlements, subject to any transfers that may take place, will determine the amount of land that farmers’ are required to set-aside for 2007 and future scheme years.