Last week, Richard Fuller MP held an event in Thurleigh for local farmers and land managers to meet with officials from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Since leaving the European Union, the agriculture sector has seen an enormous amount of changes, not least the departure from Direct Payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the move to 'Public Money for Public Goods' as well as the introduction of the UK's bespoke Environmental Land Management schemes to replace the CAP funding. Richard invited the RPA and DEFRA to talk to local landowners and farmers and answer their questions about changes to the payments schemes and agricultural policy.
Speaking at the event, Richard said:
The excellent turnout highlighted the thirst for information that exists in the rural community of North East Bedfordshire.
With increasing input costs in agriculture, steps have been taken to assist farmers with cash flow, however there are many questions surrounding the new schemes such as what measures farmers will need to take, what level of funding will be available for each scheme, how the application process will work and when payments will be delivered.
I am very grateful to the RPA and Defra officials for taking the time to deliver a presentation on the changes and answer the many questions posed by the audience. My warmest thanks also to Martin Towler of Scald End Farm, Thurleigh for hosting us so well and laying on a tremendous buffet.
