EU and the common Agricultural Policy

EU and the common Agricultural Policy

•The EU : encouraged farmers to use their land more intensively.
•The result : Surplus foods when they could not sell their crops.
•The food was going to waste and storing costs were high – CAP was reformed.

CAP

•Farmers had to take up to 20% of their arable land out of production (set aside) –Result : Farmers have had to diversify.
•In 1991 – 40% of farmers reliant on non-agricultural activities, such as :
•Leisure Farms :
Open their farms to the public. Some have applied for golfcourses to be developed on their land.
•Tourism Farm :
Such as the lake district. Open for tourists
•Conifer plantations :
Farmers receive a grant to plant conifers.
•Conservation :
By agreeing to register their land as ESAs (Environmentally Sensitive Areas). Under the scheme farmers receive a payment if they agree to :
Limit their use of fertilisers
Restore drystone walls
Reduce the number of animals they keep.
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