Proposed Brexit NI payments

JohnnyFiatMan

Obviously without politicians we can't decide how post brexit payments will be structured. A leak of an unreleased document revealed that proposed payments are to be made up of a universal payment of £5k for all farmers , productivity payments (presumably headage) then various environmental schemes and machinery grants. Seems like we won't be following England and their public goods idea where farmers would be rewarded for planting wildflower meadows, opening land for public access, encouraging biodiversity etc. We acknowledge the difference in subsidy dependence between us and England, farms incomes in England are around 50% from subs compared to a whopping 89% for NI.

Birdnuts

JohnnyFiatMan wrote: »

Obviously without politicians we can't decide how post brexit payments will be structured. A leak of an unreleased document revealed that proposed payments are to be made up of a universal payment of £5k for all farmers , productivity payments (presumably headage) then various environmental schemes and machinery grants. Seems like we won't be following England and their public goods idea where farmers would be rewarded for planting wildflower meadows, opening land for public access, encouraging biodiversity etc. We acknowledge the difference in subsidy dependence between us and England, farms incomes in England are around 50% from subs compared to a whopping 89% for NI.

I seriously doubt any future London government is going to fund open ended headage payments, especcially given the massive hole that will be left in the Agri budget post the withdrawel of EU funding and the more progressive rural development model that will implemented across the rest of the UK.

JohnnyFiatMan

Birdnuts wrote: »

JohnnyFiatMan wrote: »

Obviously without politicians we can't decide how post brexit payments will be structured. A leak of an unreleased document revealed that proposed payments are to be made up of a universal payment of £5k for all farmers , productivity payments (presumably headage) then various environmental schemes and machinery grants. Seems like we won't be following England and their public goods idea where farmers would be rewarded for planting wildflower meadows, opening land for public access, encouraging biodiversity etc. We acknowledge the difference in subsidy dependence between us and England, farms incomes in England are around 50% from subs compared to a whopping 89% for NI.

I seriously doubt any future London government is going to fund open ended headage payments, especcially given the massive hole that will be left in the Agri budget post the withdrawel of EU funding and the more progressive rural development model that will implemented across the rest of the UK.

The pot of money that is allocated to NI can be spent whatever way the agricultural minister decides. We could if wanted remain with the area based payments. A headage payment isnt unlikely considering the dup/Ulster farmers union alliance have always been strong opponents of area based payments.

TooOldBoots

I wonder will Brexit be the boost in Agriculture that they are all talking about in the UK. I can't see how they can trade with the EU without being in alignment with the EU rules and regulations. After all Agriculture is only a very small fraction of the UK economy. They can not risk isolating the Banking, Insurance and high finance sector in London for the sake of the farmers

The pot of money for NI agri is only promised for a short period (2 or 4 years). Public finances post bexit will be so bad that there will have to be cutbacks everywhere so I cant see that funding lasting.

I cant see how Brexit could be a boost to agri; the very very best case would be that it stays the same.

If UK does trade deals with the US on agri that will exclude UK from exporting to EU if non EU eligible product gets imported and mixed with UK produce. Also importing agri products on open world markets could crash market prices in the UK.

However nothing is clear. There isnt a proper post brexit plan anywhere. But there are no good scenarios for agri so far.