The Countryside Alliance is urging smallholders and small farmers to feedback on DEFRA plans to eliminate small farmers from subsidies, H&C has learned.

DEFRA is currently holding a “Consultation on implementation of the CAP health check reforms relating to the Single Payment Scheme and other direct payments”. It suggests making payments only to those with five hectares or more, rather one hectare or more as at present. The consultation document suggests “a higher minimum area would lead to greater annual administrative savings for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) as they would have fewer claims to fully process and inspect…. Farmers who do not wish to lose their entitlements could lease or purchase additional entitlements”.

“Smallholders shouldn't foot the bill for repaying the RPA's blunders by being excluded from SPS payments,” Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart commented. “Even by DEFRA’s standards this suggestion is astonishing. It is not rocket science that by making the criteria harder fewer people will qualify and therefore fewer payments will have to be made, but if this suggestion is implemented it will deal a body blow to small farmers. I am also concerned that any savings made would not be invested in farming but would be used to pay off the RPA’s administration debts. Small holders shouldn't foot the bill for repaying the RPA's blunders by being excluded from SPS payments.

“Around about 45% of holdings across England alone are five hectares or less in size, many of them struggling in this economic climate. To suggest in such a cavalier manner that they can simply “lease or purchase additional entitlements” if they don’t want to lose their payments is offensive. The farming community has been paying the price for the RPA’s mismanagement for too long, but now to simply cut out the most vulnerable group of claimants shows a contempt for farming that we hoped we would never see.”

The consultation closes on 22nd of July and anyone can respond at