Defra has opened a consultation which it says will help shape "The future of farming, the rural economy and the natural environment in England." The four week consultation on the Common Agricultural Policy, which opened for submissions on Thursday, follows questioning of Defra Secretary Owen Paterson by MPs on the EFRA Committee on Tuesday.

Mr Paterson faced challenging questions on how CAP reform would be implemented in the UK and was quizzed on his handling of the negotiation process. Defra is now seeking views on CAP implementation in England, "in order to deliver value for money for the public"; the Defra Secretary said several times on Tuesday that agricultural policy should have the support of the public, who foot the CAP bill.

The new EU rules set the framework for how Common Agricultural Policy funding may be spent, but the UK government pressed the Commission to agree that each country within the UK may make choices on how CAP is implemented from 2015. The 'renationalisation of the CAP' is controversial – European Greens' agriculture spokesperson José Bové reacted strongly to the finalisation of the CAP package in September, saying "Heads of State and Government have turned a page by more or less allowing a renationalisation of the CAP. Member States won against the communitarian ideal of solidarity and equality: it is the politics of everyone for themselves wins."

Nevertheless, Farming Minister George Eustice commented, "The UK ensured that we have choices in how we implement the Common Agricultural Policy, rather than having to work with a one-size-fits-all approach from the European Commission.

"This gives us the flexibility to target funding in ways that will deliver real benefits to the environment, boost the competitiveness of our farming industry and grow the rural economy. It's vital that the new system is designed with the input of the people whose lives it will affect. That's why it’s so important that people give us their views on how we can best achieve this."

The consultation responses will also deal with the highly contested modulation of CAP funds. The government intends to transfer up to 15 per cent from the budget for payments made directly to farmers to rural development spending (agri-environment schemes and projects to boost the rural economy). The NFU wants the amount of money transferred to be drastically reduced, arguing that many EU countries will transfer funds the other way, away from the rural development pillar, and claiming this will affect UK farmers' competitively. Green groups have also warned that this will have an adverse effect on conservation efforts.  

Defra said on Thursday, "This [modulation] is subject to evidence from the consultation that additional funding in these areas would prove value for money."

On Thursday, Defra released a list of areas that will be covered by the consultation:

• Growing the rural economy. The consultation sets out the potential to grow the rural economy, for example through business grants and investment in rural tourism.
• Improving farm competitiveness and making things simpler.
  Views are sought on how the Common Agricultural Policy can be implemented in England with minimal burdens and how CAP can support businesses to thrive and become less reliant on subsidies.
• Protecting the natural environment. Defra has proposed that a new environmental land management scheme should replace existing environmental stewardship schemes and also cover forestry. The consultation invites responses on how the Common Agricultural Policy can best benefit wildlife and improve natural landscapes.
• Protecting pollinators. The consultation will explore options for the Common Agricultural Policy to do more for pollinators, including shaping the new environmental controls that are part of direct payments, voluntary action under the Campaign for the Farm Environment and the new environmental land management scheme.

Responses to the consultation can be made:

• Online at https://consult.defra.gov.uk/communications/cap-consultation
• Via email to capconsultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk
• By post to CAP Consultation, Area 1D, Defra, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, SW1P 3JR

On Friday, Helen Browning, Chief Executive of the Soil Association commented, "One of the few good outcomes of the CAP reform process at an EU level has been clear support for organic farming, recognising its benefits for the environment and the rural development. The UK Government must now follow the lead of other EU countries in supporting organic farming, for example by ensuring that all organic farmers receive fair recognition for the significant benefits they provide."