LFA and lowland quota to lose ring-fence?

By FWi staff

FARM organisations are analysing proposals to create three separate pools of livestock quota for England, Scotland and Wales by abolishing the ring-fence between lowland and less-favoured areas.

As part of a review on overgrazing controls, MAFF has put forward several suggestions for changes to the system of livestock quotas.

These include removing the ring fence on LFA and lowland quotas, changing the categories used in allocating national reserve quota and increasing the usage rules for sheep annual premium quota from 70% to 90%.

Its argument is that the changes would reduce some of the obstacles that are in the way of enterprising farmers wanting to develop their businesses.

MAFF has admitted the changes would be likely to lead to a fall in value for people currently holding LFA quota, but says it believes there will be benefits for the economic efficiency of the sheep industry generally.

John Thorley, secretary of the National Sheep Association, said the organisation was still consulting its members on the issue so had not yet formulated a response.

But he warned the changes could be more complicated than they first appeared.

“What seems to be a simplification of an established system could put balance of sheep and cattle out of kilter,” he said.

“It could turn into a nightmare for the grass-eating fraternity.”

Sally Gibbins, NFU LFA policy advisor, agreed that there were other factors to consider.

Measures put forward to tackle the growing European BSE crisis, the pending reform of the SAP regime and the impact on the new hill farm allowance scheme all had to be taken into account, she said.