Lyon seeks fair share of CAP cash in Scotland Market round-up

Farming correspondent

Thursday 18 August 2011

LibDem MEP George Lyon has called on the UK Government to back the Commission's proposals for a fair distribution of CAP cash between Member States.

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The commission’s budget proposals call for all member states who currently receive less than 90% of the EU average direct payments (approx €243 per hectare) to have 30% of that difference made up by proportionate contributions from those countries who currently receive more than the average payment per hectare (approx €270 per hectare).

Mr Lyon has called for the UK Government to back the same fair distribution of CAP cash within member states such as the UK.Scotland currently receives one of the lowest shares of CAP cash in Europe (approx €109 per hectare). In the UK, only England and Northern Ireland enjoy direct payments that are above the EU average (approx €290 per hectare in England and €350 per hectare in Northern Ireland).According to Mr Lyon, if the commission’s proposals for a fair distribution of CAP cash were used within the UK, it would give Scotland a 40% increase in its direct payments budget –worth well over £225m a year to Scottish farmers.Mr Lyon commented: “I believe the UK Government should not only back the Commission’s plans in the forthcoming negotiations on CAP reform, but they should go further and push for the same system to be used to distribute CAP cash within member states, such as the UK, as well as between member states”.United Auctions sold 13,679 store lambs in Lairg on Tuesday. The sale, widely regarded as a barometer for the forthcoming season, had a similar number of lambs to last year with ewe lambs averaging £71.91 (+£7.90 on the year), while wether lambs averaged £58.55 (+£2.79).The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 3554 store lambs in Longtown on Tuesday to a top of £80 for Beltex. Store lamb averages: Texel £62.61; Charollais £62.31; SuffolkX £62.01; Cheviot £57.45; Greyface £55.58; Blackface £48.92.There were also 1223 breeding ewes that sold to £140 for Mule gimmers.Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 10 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of 220p per kg and an average of 184.2p, while 30 prime bullocks peaked at 211p and levelled at 188p. Seven young bulls also sold to 186.5p and averaged 182.4p.Over in the rough ring 170 beef cows averaged 128.7p, while 165 dairy cows levelled at 109.8p.There were also 17 dairy cattle forward when Friesian calved-heifers sold to £2020, £1820 and £1650, while Friesian calved-cows peaked at £1100.The firm also sold 2325 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday that sold to £83.50 per head and 202p per kg to average 169p. The 304 cast sheep forward saw ewes sell to £110 for Texels and £62 for Blackfaces.

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Lyon seeks fair share of CAP cash in Scotland Market round-up

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