There is a well known saying, 'no pain, no gain' and that will be ringing true in the minds of Milk Link’s 1,600 producers, who are on the brink of reaping just reward for 12 years of loyalty and investment.RSPB warns of agri-environment funding cuts
THE RSPB has warned the EU’s CAP plans could have a dramatic effect on farmland birds unless urgent action is taken to protect agri-environment schemes.
It comes ahead of the EU’s latest budget, due to be unveiled on June 29, which could see some agri-environment payments scrapped.
Martin Harper, RSPB conservation director said: “Slashing funding for farmers who take action for wildlife would be a devastating blow to the environment and the long-term future of farming. Last year the European Union, under President Barroso’s leadership, pledged to halt the decline in wildlife by 2020.
“If he approves this budget, the President risks erasing wildlife from the map of Europe, breaking promises and undermining decades of conservation effort, which has spared the greatest wildlife losses. Cuts to agri-environment funding would be totally unacceptable.”
He warned a cut in funding could cause the extinction of some threatened species, including the turtle dove and cirl bunting.
The RSPB’s calls to protect agri-environment money were backed by a number of MEPs who urged the Commission to reconsider any cuts in funding.
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Readers' comments (5)
mechanical mike | 22 June 2011 11:35 am
Since when did this self oppionated & self engrandising lot dictate farming policy????
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Barry Breslau | 22 June 2011 12:03 pm
They are commenting on the EU budget which is potentially going to consign agri-environment schemes to the dustbin in favour of production subsidy for French, German and Polish farms.. Something which the current right-of-centre Government oppose. Would you be whingeing if Caroline Spelman made a statement about this?
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Anonymous | 22 June 2011 12:12 pm
Any form of capping of SFP's or reduction in agri-enviro payments will worry the RSPB.
In Scotland since 2005 the RSPB has collected £1,477,462 from Scotland’s rural development programme (SRDP) and its predecessor scheme, £1,057,896.18 from the single farm payments and £64,817 from the Scottish beef calf scheme.
But that is just a fraction of the £5,206,271 it is scheduled to receive from the SRDP for projects put forward by it and approved by government, but not yet paid.
The figures for England and Wales are likly to dwarf the Scottish figures.
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Charles Henry | 22 June 2011 6:53 pm
"Agri-environment schemes" is just another name for the RSPB's junkets and hobbies. The sort of thing that the rest of us have to finance for ourselves. . I'm into antiquities and Fine Art. . I've heard that some people call it 'interfering mother-in-law syndrome" Mike!
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Barry Breslau | 23 June 2011 10:18 pm
@charles henry;
Agri-environment schemes, far from being 'junkets and hobbies', are what CAP reform was all about; paying farmers for outcomes we (the taxpayers) would like to see; for example using less nitrates; as opposed to paying farmers to produce surplus food we don't actually need; a practice in itself that has proved ecologically damaging.
Farmers themselves rely heavily on these payments as part of their yearly revenue; something which is recognized by most people who know anything about the industry.
If pillar 2 funding is cut heavily and production subsidies are protected not only will the fly in the face of ecological opinion it will also be a big 'up yours' to those who think a progressive CAP is a good idea and that the bad old days were just that.
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