Farm ministers from Germany’s federal states have agreed to ringfence 25% of direct payments for eco schemes.
The move is a strong signal from the ministers and comes before negotiators in Brussels have finalised the reform of the next CAP.
They met for a two-day conference in Berlin and have urged the federal government to adopt their recommendations.
Germany has a total CAP budget in excess of €6bn and under the state ministers’ proposals, almost 50% would go towards environmental spending.
Eco schemes
A list of possible eco scheme measures has been produced which include:
Increasing the amount of non-productive areas on a farm - ie fallow land or landscape features such as hedgerows.Creating wildflower areas on tillage farms. Agroforestry systems on tillage land.Increasing crop diversification with a minimum 10% legumes and at least five crops.Creating low input pasture strips or islands on permanent grassland.Along with a significant fund for eco schemes, funding for direct payments would be further reduced under plans to transfer money from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2.
This would begin in 2023 with 10% moving and rising to 15% by 2026.
It would result in 40% of the German CAP budget going to fund farm schemes.
Other supports
There would also be a front-loaded payment on the first 60ha and a €70/ha payment for young farmers on up to 120ha.
The ministers agreed to ringfence 2% of the direct payment budget for coupled payments to support sheep and suckler farmers.
There would be a premium of €30/ewe and €60/suckler cow, acting as a bonus for grazing animals.
After transferring funds to Pillar 2, eco schemes, young farmer support, the grazing animal bonus and front-loaded payments, the remainder would paid as an annual payment per hectare.
Farm ministers from Germany’s federal states have agreed to ringfence 25% of direct payments for eco schemes.
The move is a strong signal from the ministers and comes before negotiators in Brussels have finalised the reform of the next CAP.
They met for a two-day conference in Berlin and have urged the federal government to adopt their recommendations.
Germany has a total CAP budget in excess of €6bn and under the state ministers’ proposals, almost 50% would go towards environmental spending.
Eco schemes
A list of possible eco scheme measures has been produced which include:
Increasing the amount of non-productive areas on a farm - ie fallow land or landscape features such as hedgerows.Creating wildflower areas on tillage farms. Agroforestry systems on tillage land.Increasing crop diversification with a minimum 10% legumes and at least five crops.Creating low input pasture strips or islands on permanent grassland.Along with a significant fund for eco schemes, funding for direct payments would be further reduced under plans to transfer money from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2.
This would begin in 2023 with 10% moving and rising to 15% by 2026.
It would result in 40% of the German CAP budget going to fund farm schemes.
Other supports
There would also be a front-loaded payment on the first 60ha and a €70/ha payment for young farmers on up to 120ha.
The ministers agreed to ringfence 2% of the direct payment budget for coupled payments to support sheep and suckler farmers.
There would be a premium of €30/ewe and €60/suckler cow, acting as a bonus for grazing animals.
After transferring funds to Pillar 2, eco schemes, young farmer support, the grazing animal bonus and front-loaded payments, the remainder would paid as an annual payment per hectare.
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