NFU fighting for hill farmers
NFU fighting for hill farmers
THE NFU has pledged to keep the pressure on government to make sure their planned changes for hill farming support offer a better deal for hill farmers.
Speaking at a press briefing this week (Mon), NFU deputy president Tim Bennett said Britains hill farmers were already surviving on next to nothing and they were greatly alarmed by the governments proposals.
"In their current form they offer nowhere near the level of support needed by these farmers," he said. "In addition they are so complex that it is almost impossible to assess fully the implications to the industry."
Although the consultation period ended last Friday (Dec 3), the union believes it has been so short, it could only be considered as the initial step in its discussions with MAFF and the EU Commission. And it has told the government that revised scheme details will need to be examined before proposals are finally submitted to the commission before its Jan 3 deadline.
According to NFU Less Favoured Areas committee chairman Peter Allen, the complexity of the governments plans for a replacement for Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances has left farmers frightened.
Every one of the 1000 farmers who responded to a recent NFU questionnaire on the consultation objected to the proposals, he said.
Mr Allen said the lack of clarification on details of the scheme made it impossible for farmers to work out exactly how they would be affected and as a consequence they were petrified. *