LANDOWNERS WITH no track record of farming are "severely mistaken" if they think that Scotland's new agricultural support system will allow them to claim EU cash simply for owning eligible land.
Following concern over the number of landowners removing land from seasonal letting in order to claim from the new area-based system themselves - and criticism of the Scottish Government's safeguards against non-farming claimants - rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead has reiterated that would-be "slipper farmers" will have no place in the new system.
Ahead of a meeting with industry representatives to discuss the impact that the new CAP is having on seasonal lets, Mr Lochhead stated that landowners would not qualify for payments without meeting strict minimum activity requirements.
"I am aware that there are some concerns about how the new CAP might affect the availability of seasonal lets and the associated impact on rent levels, and I am meeting industry representatives later today to discuss these concerns in more detail," he said on Tuesday. "It is a European requirement that CAP support is now based on land area, rather than on historic payments - and to mitigate as far as possible any negative impact on Scottish farming, we have brought in the staged transition to area-based payments that was requested by industry.
"We have also introduced strengthened minimum activity rules to stamp out slipper farming and ensure payments are only made where genuine farming activity takes place," he insisted.
"My understanding is that land is still available to rent, but in some cases the CAP payments are now being claimed by the landowner rather than the tenant. I can certainly understand why so many tenant farmers are concerned by this situation, which has been brought about by EU rules, and I look forward to exploring this issue in more detail when I meet industry.
"Would-be slipper farmers have no place in the new CAP," said Mr Lochhead. "If anyone thinks that landowners with no track record of farming can take land back in hand and get payments then they are mistaken. And they are severely mistaken if they think payments will be made on entitlements where there is no farming activity.
"Everyone claiming basic payments will need to provide verifiable evidence of appropriate farming activity that will be carefully scrutinised by my officials," he said. "And claimants will be held accountable for ensuring all cross-compliance, minimum activity and other relevant regulatory obligations are met."
The Scottish Farmer's annual Agricultural Supplier Awards are now open for nominations. To find out more and submit nominations, go to www.agriculturalsuppliersawards.co.uk
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