Defra Update - Agriculture Bill progression and the planned removal of greening rule
The Agriculture Bill has now completed committee stage in the House of Lords. It will now progress to report stage.
The Bill provides the legislative framework necessary to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. Farmers and land managers will be supported over a seven-year agricultural transition period, giving them time to plan and adapt to the new approach. We have reflected on the scrutiny of the House of Commons on the previous Agriculture Bill and have taken steps to provide greater clarity and certainty on how this Bill will deliver for farmers and food producers and enable us to leave the countryside in a cleaner, greener and healthier state for future generations.
I’d also like to make you aware of the planned removal of the greening rule for farmers. With effect from the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme year, the Government plans to end the need to comply with the EU-delivered greening requirements and begin the move towards our new Environmental Land Management scheme, which will deliver greater benefits for the environment. This change will also reduce the administrative burden upon farmers.
The removal of the greening requirement will not affect the overall payment received by each farmer, as the money will instead be added to farmers’ entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme.