Vol. 539 No. 1
46 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the total amount of grants paid out under the set aside scheme in 2000; the total amount of land involved; if he will give comparative figures for the likely position in 2001 and the likely development of this set aside scheme in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18356/01]
A total of £8.3 million was paid in 2000 in respect of 29,525 hectares of set-aside land under the EU arable aid scheme. Applications for the scheme for 2001 are being processed so it is too early to predict the exact area set aside in 2001. It is likely that the area and the expenditure will increase for a number of reasons. The payment rate for set-aside in 2001 is £301.67 (383.04) per hectare compared to £280.93 (356.71) per hectare in 2000. Having considered the arrangements for set-aside under the arable aid system for the 2001 harvest, I decided that the voluntary set-aside limit would be increased from 10%, which applied in 2000, to 20%. Along with the obligatory rate of 10%, this allowed farmers to set aside up to an aggregate of 30% of land for which arable aid is claimed this year. My decision was taken as an exceptional measure aimed at facilitating growers of winter cereals unable to sow their crops because of persistent wet weather. Such farmers had therefore a greater degree of flexibility in deciding whether to divert their land to spring crops or to put it into set-aside as and from 15 January 2001.
A further exceptional measure in relation to set-aside was also put in place this year as a result of the impact of foot and mouth disease controls in County Louth. Arable aid applicants in County Louth were given a special concession whereby they could put up to 100% of their eligible land into set-aside in 2001. This concession was aimed at facilitating farmers in the county and discouraging the movement of farm machinery there as far as possible.
As regards set-aside arrangements in future years, Agenda 2000 set the compulsory rate of set-aside for larger arable farmers – more than 15.13 hectares at 10% until 2006. Each member state can decide annually on the level of voluntary set-aside to put in place. As I said already, this was an exceptional year in terms of weather conditions so I decided that all producers could set aside up to 30% of their eligible land. I expect that, given normal farming conditions, the maximum level of set-aside will revert to the normal 20% limit in 2002. I will keep this under review and will make a decision towards the end of this year.
