Welsh Glastir payment scheme comes under attack

According to claims by Graig Producers – the marketing group representing 700 organic livestock producers throughout the UK, including 350 in Wales – the proposals need a complete re-think.

Nigel Elgar, a director and co-founder of the group, maintains income on his own farm would be ‘drastically’ affected and environmental benefits put at risk.

He says that for nine years Cannon Farm, his 390-hectare holding in Montgomeryshire, had received Assembly grants to reward good environmental stewardship under the Tir Mynydd and Tir Gofal schemes.

But under the new Glastir scheme it stood to receive a 47 per cent reduction in income from those sources.

“The net effect will be to wipe out all of the profits of my farm business,” he added.

“While I am personally very committed both to organic farming and to environmental stewardship schemes I also need to run a viable farm business.

“But the wildlife habitat we have set aside and nurtured under Tir Gofal will be put at risk because we will need to manage the land differently to some extent to increase our income – unless we are among the lucky few who qualify for higher-level funding under Glastir.

“What a waste of nearly 10 years’ work.”

He maintains the changes will not only adversely affect organic farmers but other family farms that have spent years embracing environmental measures promoted by the Assembly.

Charles Weston, another member of Graig Producers, says he stands to lose 83 per cent of the agri-environment funding he currently receives at Tanyfedw, his 80-hectare organic Welsh upland livestock farm in the Brecon Beacons.

In 2008 he says he received funding through Tir Mynydd, Tir Gofal and the Organic Farming Scheme.

Under Glastir he will receive only £2,688 – a flat-rate payment of £28 per hectare plus a 20 per cent ‘top up’ as a previous recipient of Tir Mynydd.

In response to the criticisms Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, said today (Friday, August 14), that it was too early to speculate on the operational detail of the scheme, due to be introduced in 2012.

“The detail is currently being drawn up in extensive engagement with farming and countryside interests, including Organic Centre Wales,” she said.

But the Minister also said the planned Welsh LFA payment rate would be £33.60 per hectare and £28 per hectare for non-LFA farms.

“It is my intention that transition into Glastir should ensure that, wherever possible, the environmental benefits already delivered through considerable investment both by government and farmers in previous schemes are maintained.

“With these objectives in mind, in July, I announced that existing agreement holders in Tir Cynnal and Tir Gofal will be offered an extension of their annual management payments until the end of 2013.

“All holdings certified as wholly organic will be eligible for a 50 per cent reduction on the points required to enter the scheme in recognition of the environmental benefits derived from their organic status.”

An organic conversion fund would also be included and those wishing to convert to organic farming or bring additional land into organic status would be able to apply for funding from the fund.

The Minister added that the planned payment rate for the all-Wales element of Glastir for farmers within the less favoured area of Wales will be £33.60 per hectare (£28 per hectare outside the LFA).

This compared to the LFA payment rates of £28 and £24 per hectare for the severely disadvantaged area and the disadvantaged area.

“As a result of close working with stakeholders, it has been agreed that farmers who have land of high biodiversity value anywhere in Wales will be able to apply for support under the targeted element of Glastir as long as they are already in the all-Wales element of Glastir,” added the Minister.

“This opportunity will apply irrespective of whether farmers are in any existing agri-environment scheme.

“But as no final decision on the location and allocation of funds for the targeted level of Glastir has been made, it is premature to conclude that any work has been wasted,” she added.

“Direct comparisons between Glastir and current agri-environment schemes, including financial arrangements, are not possible given the very different aims and objectives of Glastir.”

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