Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:00:38.734Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Livestock production post CAP reform: implications for the environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

D. R. Oglethorpe*
Affiliation:
Associate Director (Economics), English Farming and Food Partnerships, 45 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JU, UK
*
Get access

Abstract

On 1 January 2005, the direct support schemes directed at UK livestock farmers as part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) were replaced with a Single Farm Payment, decoupled from production. In practical term, this means that farmers now have freedom of choice over the particular farm enterprises they engage in since their income support is no longer dependent on their type of production. Farmer policy-response will be dependent on their previous dependence on the direct subsidies being replaced, which, as the paper shows, is considerable for UK livestock farmers. The paper suggests a dichotomous shift of farmer objective in the livestock sector in the future, with ‘environmental managers’ and ‘market managers’ focusing on different outputs. The outcome will be a significant down-sizing of the UK livestock sector but with probable net gains to the environment.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chadwick, L. 2004. The farm management handbook, 25th edition, September 2004. SAC, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Country Landowners' Association. 2003. The potential environmental effects of transferability of payment entitlements under the Commission's proposals for a long term perspective for sustainable agriculture. Country Landowners' Association.Google Scholar
Defra. 2005a. Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2004.Google Scholar
Defra. 2005b. Farm accounts in England, 2003/4, revised edition, 02 2005.Google Scholar
English Nature. 2004. Sustainable agriculture under the new CAP. Workshop with Countryside Agency to discuss strategic environmental objectives, 30 June 2004.Google Scholar
GFA-RACE. 2003. The potential environmental impacts of the CAP reform agreement. Report for Defra, report no. GRP-P-172, 5 December 2003.Google Scholar
Hall, W. R., Phillips, K. A., Ford, S. A., Rockliffe, J., Woodcock, D. and Topliff, M. 2003. Assessment of the potential impact on beef and sheep farming of decoupling CAP aid payments from production. Report to Defra, January 2003, ADAS.Google Scholar
Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 2002. Environmental effects of the Common Agricultural Policy and possible mitigation measures. A report prepared for Defra by the JNCC on behalf of the GB statutory conservation, countryside and environment agencies (Joint Nature and Conservancy Council), April 2002.Google Scholar
Moss, J., McErlean, S., Kostov, P., Patton, M., Westhoff, P. and Binfield, J. 2003. Analysis of the impact of decoupling on agriculture in the UK. Report to Defra, January 2003, Queen's University Belfast and FAPRI.Google Scholar
Oglethorpe, D. R. and Revell, B. J. 2003. Decoupling and UK agriculture: - a whole farm approach. Report to Defra, January 2003. SAC and Harper Adams University College.Google Scholar
Tallowin, J. R. B., Rook, A. J. and Rutter, S. M. 2005. Impact of grazing management on biodiversity of grasslands. Animal Science 81: 193198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar