Pillars of Strength - CAP Reform Going Forward (Sponsored by Strutt & Parker)

Cost £10

The European Commission will announce its final proposals for a new direct payment, rural development and financing regulations in early October opening a consultation process likely to last until 2012.

The CLA has been one of only a few organisations fighting for a sufficiently well funded CAP – and the Agriculture Commissioner has listened to our argument that the CAP must be maintained on the grounds of food and environmental security. But a flurry of leaked documents has raised speculation about mandatory greening in pillar one, capping and the definitions of an active farmer.

There are further concerns over the issue of new entitlements and the specifics of mandatory greening.

All this is set against a backdrop of an EU budget which has already been drawn up – but the share of the CAP within the budget and how the CAP resources are to be redistributed between the Member States and between the two Pillars are areas of uncertainty which could have important implications for the UK.

But the fight on the CAP budget is not over yet and the negotiations that follow the publication of these proposals will be crucial. These proposals have now to be agreed with the European Council and the European Parliament and the questions of exactly what the CLA should be arguing for on behalf of our farmers and land managers needs to be resolved.

This is your chance to take part in that process and to hear Emeritus Professor Allan Buckwell, the CLA’s expert on CAP, speak on the subject together with Simon Butcher, a farm business consultant from Strutt and Parker, at a series of events the CLA is organising across the South West region.

Registration & refreshments from 10.00am & 3.00pm

Wednesday 23 November 2011 10.30am – 12.30pm
Tunnell House Inn, Tarlton Road, Nr Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 6PW

Wednesday 23 November 2011 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Salisbury and South Wilts Golf Club, Netherhampton Road, Netherhampton
Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8PR

Thursday 24 November 2011 10.30am – 12.30pm
The Monks Yard, Horton Cross Farm, Horton Cross, Ilminster, Somerset
TA19 9PT

Thursday 24 November 2011 3.30pm – 5.30pm
The Arundell Arms, Lifton, PL16 0AA

To book go to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents or telephone 01249 700200.