Moorland to recieve £26 per Ha boost

DEFRA has announced that the Moorland region will receive around £26 per hectare more next year under the Basic Payment Scheme.  The payment rate will rise to an estimated £56 per Ha from the current rate of around £30 per Ha.  This increase, of some 87%, is actually larger than the 84% proposed in the original CAP consultation (see November Bulletin).  That increase was criticised in some quarters as being too generous.  It appears that DEFRA remain very keen to ‘push money up the hills’  as part of CAP Reform.

Some further decisions are expected from DEFRA soon on Ecological Focus Areas, the Active Farmer rules and cross-compliance.