NFU warns farmers that there is no escape from cost sharing
UK - Farmers will be expected to make a greater financial contribution towards meeting the cost of things like animal disease management, BSE controls and livestock tracing, as government looks to save money.
Addressing the NFU council this week, head of food and farming Kevin Pearce explained that DEFRA already needed to find £200m to meet the exceptional costs of avian flu and the Rural Payments Agency debacle.
And as part of the comprehensive spending review for 2008-2011, it was looking to trim its spending by at least £90m.
It would therefore be looking increasingly for "cost sharing" with farmers, especially in the area of animal health and welfare, which is the biggest single item on the DEFRA budget.
There was also pressure coming from Brussels for more cost sharing. Many member states already took this approach and the EU Commission wants to harmonise these contributions to ensure all farmers pay the same.
Source: FWi
And as part of the comprehensive spending review for 2008-2011, it was looking to trim its spending by at least £90m.
It would therefore be looking increasingly for "cost sharing" with farmers, especially in the area of animal health and welfare, which is the biggest single item on the DEFRA budget.
There was also pressure coming from Brussels for more cost sharing. Many member states already took this approach and the EU Commission wants to harmonise these contributions to ensure all farmers pay the same.
Source: FWi