Peter Loggie
Crops Policy Manager
T:  0131 472 4016
E:  peter.loggie@nfus.org.uk

Ian Sands
Combinable Crops Committee Chairman

To contact Ian, please email peter.loggie@nfus.org.uk

2019 Greening Rules

Full Greening Guidance for 2019 can be found at - https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/basic-payment-scheme/basic-payment-scheme-full-guidance/greening-guidance-2019

NFU Scotland Combinable Crops Chairman, Ian Sands commented on 2019 Greening rules, ‘The confirmation that greening rules for the 2019 scheme year was expected by farmers to continue through the transition period. NFU Scotland continues to dispute the benefit of these blunt greening measures and recently requested that the Scottish Government request a derogation of the 3 crop rule from the European Commission. A derogation of the unnecessary 3 crop rule, which brings no real environmental benefit, would be just one step which would immensely aid Scottish farmers. 

Whilst stability is needed during the transition period, NFU Scotland would like to see measures introduced post-Brexit which are of genuine benefit and do not impose unnecessary and inflexible rules on Scottish farmers. The blunt tools of the EU’s Greening rules do not fit to the profile of Scottish agriculture and therefore offer little by way of environmental gain but have added significant cost to many Scottish agricultural businesses and to Scottish Government in terms of inspections and compliance complexities. There exists a real opportunity for the Scottish Government to successfully deliver environmental objectives, but agricultural must be at the heart of all measures.’

NFU Scotland Combinable Crops Chairman, Ian Sands commented on 2019 Greening rules, ‘The confirmation that greening rules for the 2019 scheme year was expected by farmers to continue through the transition period. NFU Scotland continues to dispute the benefit of these blunt greening measures and recently requested that the Scottish Government request a derogation of the 3 crop rule from the European Commission. A derogation of the unnecessary 3 crop rule, which brings no real environmental benefit, would be just one step which would immensely aid Scottish farmers. 

Whilst stability is needed during the transition period, NFU Scotland would like to see measures introduced post-Brexit which are of genuine benefit and do not impose unnecessary and inflexible rules on Scottish farmers. The blunt tools of the EU’s Greening rules do not fit to the profile of Scottish agriculture and therefore offer little by way of environmental gain but have added significant cost to many Scottish agricultural businesses and to Scottish Government in terms of inspections and compliance complexities. There exists a real opportunity for the Scottish Government to successfully deliver environmental objectives, but agricultural must be at the heart of all measures.’

NFU Scotland’s four key Immigration Policy Priorities:

1. In the immediate term the UK Government must scale up the quota of non-EU nationals that are being allowed to take up seasonal posts for a trial period in 2019 and 2020 under the pilot seasonal agricultural workers scheme. Currently the scheme will allow 2,500 non-EU nationals to take up posts whilst freedom of movement is still in operation during the Brexit transition. However, based on projected shortages within the industry, it is understood that 10,000 non-EU nationals will be needed within the sector in 2019.
2. The UK Government must clarify the status of EU nationals in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Advice from the government suggests that in the event of no-deal, EU nationals will still be able to come to the UK for a three-month period, following which they will need to apply for an extension of up to three years. This is causing EU nationals considering roles in the UK, as well as Scottish employers, a huge amount of uncertainty. NFU Scotland is calling on the government extends the period to 12 months.
3. The UK Government is currently consulting on a new immigration system which will allow ‘low skilled’ workers to come to the UK to take up posts for up to one year, immediately followed by a 12-month ‘cooling off’ period. It is the NFU Scotland position that for members who employ workers, this proposal would be totally unworkable and a disincentive to employing staff and training them up, only for them to have to leave after the initial 12 months. Any new immigration system must allow individuals to take up posts and upskill in those posts, with a view to staying on for a longer period or permanently.
4. The UK Government is also consulting on whether a wage threshold of £30,000 should apply for any prospective migrants coming to take up posts in the UK. NFU Scotland has strongly refuted this proposal as an arbitrary threshold with little or no basis in the reality of employment patterns within Scottish agriculture or food and drink processing.
   

NFU Scotland’s Horticulture Working Group Chairman, James Porter, giving evidence on the UK Government’s Immigration and Social Security Coordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill in Westminster.

Click to download the 2018 Harvest Results