Scotland’s Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing unveiled plans to change greening rules introduced under the Policy’s last set of reforms.

Part of farmers’ direct payments under the CAP are now dependent on their meeting these greening criteria. Greening measures introduced under 2013 CAP reforms have proven unpopular with many in Europe, with big farm groups resenting the measures, which they say are clumsy, and environmentalists and food policy commentators complaining that they have been watered-down to the point that they are ineffective.

The planned changes for 2018 include:

• Counting hedges as a separate type of Ecological Focus Area (EFA)
• Supporting agro-forestry under the Forestry Grant Scheme and making it count towards EFA on temporary grassland
• Moves to shorten the period during which maintenance of field drains is prohibited on EFA fallow

On unveiling the plans, Fergus Ewing said, “We are committed to ensuring that greening rules are effective for the environment and do not introduce a disproportionate burden for our farmers. Having listened to concerns raised by the industry and considered the issues very carefully, we plan to introduce changes to Scotland’s greening rules from 2018.

“While these changes in themselves will make a difference, there is more we can and should be doing to ensure the sustainability of farming and food production in the future.”

John Kinnaird, former NFU Scotland President and now the Scottish Government’s agricultural sustainability champion, also commented, “I welcome the announcement of these changes. This is a start, albeit a small one within the constraints of current regulations, with hopefully more to come.   They show the Scottish Government has been listening.

“But it is also important to acknowledge that many farmers and crofters are very often undertaking environmental measures that go beyond Greening. We need to get to a position that allows the good work undertaken all over Scotland to be acknowledged and supported appropriately.”

The Scottish government will make further announcements covering detailed implementation rules for each of the planned changes to greening rules and analysis of the impacts of the changes requested by farmers.

The European Commission is undertaking a Simplification Review of greening. The proposals under consideration include a ban on the use of plant protection products on productive EFA areas, including fallow, nitrogen-fixing crops, catch crops and green cover.  Fergus Ewing said further changes to Scottish greening rules will be considered once the Review has concluded in April this year.

Speaking at NFU Scotland’s AGM on Monday, the Scottish Conservatives’ leader Ruth Davidson said there would be a row between Westminster and Holyrood if the Scottish government was given powers to develop its own agriculture policy post-Brexit. Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland must have its own farm policy to better reflect the distinct interests of Scotland’s farmers. She added that the country’s landscape and climate meant agriculture is a more important part of the economy in Scotland than in the UK as a whole.