Fruit and veg growers to be eligible for Single Payment

Fruit and vegetable producers in Wales will, from May 2010, be eligible to apply for Single Payment Scheme (SPS) entitlement for the first time. The move was announced by Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones on the 31 July 2008.

Significant reform to the Common Agriculture Policy fruit and vegetable regime was agreed in 2007. A key element was to create the opportunity for fruit and vegetable producers to receive direct payments under the CAP. Potential claimants will need to satisfy eligibility requirements as well as meeting the CAP cross compliance standards including keeping land in good environmental and agricultural condition.

Wkipedia: Single Payment Scheme http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Payment_Scheme

European Commission: DG Agriculture and Rural Development: Agricultural markets: Direct payments http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/sfp/index_en.htm

NFU Cymru: Press Release, 1.8.08: Mixed reaction on the new Welsh Horticulture Single Farm Payment proposal http://www.nfu-cymru.org.uk/news/1103

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