MSP Welcomes New CAP Guidance for Farming and Environment

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed new guidance on farming and the environment.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has issued new ‘greening’ guidance for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) next year.

The new guidance has been endorsed by Professor Russel Griggs’s expert group and includes changes introduced by the European Commission’s simplification agenda.

It provides further flexibility for farmers and crofters to mitigate the impact of farming on the environment.

Under CAP, it is currently mandatory for applicants to the Basic Payment Scheme to comply with ‘greening’ requirements, where relevant on their land, in return of receiving additional payment.

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast said:

“One of the regular pleas when I meet farmers is for simpler regulation. This set of changes is a significant and very welcome response to meet farmers' needs.

"I know that the Scottish Government's engagement with farmers will continue to deliver for our industry.

"Today's announcement illustrates why it remains vital that none of the powers that enable decisions to be made in Scotland which respond to Scottish needs are removed to London as a result of our leaving the EU."