Minister admits farm incomes are dire
30 November 1998
Minister admits farm incomes are dire
By Shelley Wright
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AGRICULTURE minister Nick Brown has admitted that farm incomes are dire.
The latest Government statistics, due to be released tomorrow morning (Tuesday), will show that average incomes have plummeted by a third on last year. Hill farmers and the livestock sector will be hardest hit, but Mr Brown warned that there will be no additional money given to farmers from the Treasury. Speaking at the Smithfield Show today, Mr Brown said it was unlikely that the Government would increase the terms of its recent multi-million pound rescue package for farmers. “It was on the basis of these figures that we secured the £120 million,” he said |
| Agriculture minister Nick Brown at the Smithfield Show today |
Mr Brown reminded farmers that cutbacks in last years comprehensive spending review had set the Governments spending targets for the following three years.
The cutbacks mean there is unlikely to be any additional cash to help promote the collaborative marketing initiative launched at the Smithfield Show on Sunday.
Similarly, the Government is unlikely to help the Meat and Livestock Commission get beef back into the European market following last weeks lifting of the export ban.
The Government is now intent on ensuring that British farmers benefit from reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, said Mr Brown.
The aim is to secure as much certainty for those investing in British agriculture – including larger farmers, he added.
Although refusing to rule out the possibility completely, Mr Brown said he was against the concept of capping support payments for big producers.
“I dont want to see the CAP reformed in a way where large farmers are penalised,” he said.
“If the idea is that we support only smaller farmers, then that would massively distort the market and would just encourage the larger units to split up so that they could secure more support.”