EU Member States approved, on Wednesday 28 August in a committee meeting, a series of support measures proposed by the Commission to help farmers cope with the financial consequences of adverse weather conditions and to improve the availability of feed for animals (see EUROPE 12304/3).
According to Phil Hogan, the Agriculture Commissioner, the Commission “reacted swiftly when necessary”. The measures, he said, should “relieve European farmers financially” and “protect them against a shortage of fodder for their livestock”.
Larger advances and derogations. The measures provide for higher advances in terms of direct payments and exceptional derogations on greening rules, in order to allow farmers to have sufficient feed for their animals.
Affected farmers will be able to receive a higher percentage of their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments in order to improve their cash flow. In particular, they may: - receive up to 70% of their direct payments as of mid-October (against an advance of 50% possible); - benefit from 85% of their rural development payments as soon as the package of measures is formally adopted at the beginning of September;
Derogations to certain greening rules will also be allowed to improve the availability of feed; - possibility to consider land lying fallow as a distinct crop or as an ecological focus area even though it has been grazed or harvested; - possibility to sow 'catch crops' such as 'pure crops' (and not a mixture of crops, as currently prescribed) if they are intended for grazing or fodder production; - possibility to shorten the minimum period of eight weeks for 'catch crops' to allow arable farmers to sow their winter crops in a timely manner after their ‘catch crops'.
The Commission will remain in contact with all Member States to analyse the impact of droughts. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)