The Farm Advisory System Inge Van Oost European Commission DG Agriculture and Rural Development – Unit D.3 – Cross compliance

Structure Main elements of the FAS Bodies involved Possibility of financing under the CAP pillar II Time schedule Obligations under cross compliance related to water issues Reflections on the basis of the DG AGRI questionnaire Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

FAS as a tool to implement cross compliance The 2003 CAP reform made direct support for farmers dependent on compliance with requirements of public interest (cross compliance – in force 2005). Cross compliance concerns regulations/directives in the field of environment, public and animal health, animal welfare, plant protection products and the maintenance of all agricultural land in good agricultural and environmental condition. In 2007 Rural Development area and animal welfare payments, and in 2008 wine payments, were added to the list of CAP payments under the horizontal cross compliance tool. Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Main elements of the FAS The Member States must establish a system of advising farmers on land and farm management (the “ Farm Advisory System“): they have the obligation to offer advice to farmers The advisory activity shall cover at least the SMRs and the GAEC; the purpose is to help farmers facing their obligations under cross compliance The field of the FAS is the whole cross-compliance but it is not limited to cross-compliance requirements: Member States can decide to enlarge it Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Farm Advisory System CROSS COMPLIANCE SCOPE PAYMENTS SCOPE Direct payments : Single Payment Scheme Single Area Payment scheme All other coupled direct payments Rural development: Payments to farmers in mountain and other handicap areas Natura 2000 payments both in farm and forest land Payments linked to the Water Framework Directive Agri-environment Animal welfare payments First afforestation of agricultural land Forest-environment payments Wine : Grubbing-up premium Restructuration payments Green harvesting payments Statutory Management Requirements (SMR) Natura 2000 Directives (birds-habitats)(2) Nitrates and Groundwater Directives (2) Sewage Sludge Directive (1) Animal Identification-Registration (4) Pesticides Directive (1) Hormones ban Directive (1) General Food Law (1) Notification of diseases Directives (4) Animal welfare Directives (3) Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) Minimum soil cover Minimum land management Retain terraces Crop rotation Arable stubble management Appropriate machinery use Minimum livestock stocking rates Permanent Pasture protection Retention landscape features Unwanted vegetation Olive groves maintenance Permanent Pasture Ratio SMR = requirements Natura 2000 Directives (birds-habitats)(2) Nitrates and Groundwater Directives (2) Sewage Sludge Directive (1) Animal Identification-Registration (4) Pesticides Directive (1) Hormones ban Directive (1) General Food Law (1) Notification of diseases Directives (4) Animal welfare Directives (3) GAEC = standards Minimum soil cover Minimum land management Retain terraces Crops rotations Arable stubble Appropriate machinery use ManagementLivestock stocking rates Permanent Pasture protection Retention landscape features Unwanted vegetation Olive groves Permanent Pasture Ratio=obligations SCOPE Farm Advisory System Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Main elements of the FAS The FAS must be clearly distinguished from the controls of cross-compliance each actor plays his role: Advisor (FAS) Farmer Controller (IACS) Helps farmer with advice Responsible for his actions, has to implement the requirements Controls can lead to reductions and sanctions Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Main elements of the FAS Farmers participate in the FAS on a voluntary basis Member States may give priority on the basis of objective criteria to certain categories of farmers, e.g. if the available budget is not sufficient for all No conditions as to the frequency of advice, the qualification of advisers, whether the advice has to be paid, etc are specified No data shall be disclosed by the advisor apart to the farmer (except in very limited situations) Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Bodies involved The national authorities are responsible for designating the advisory bodies in charge of the FAS There are no criteria specified for these bodies; they can be public or private Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Possibilities of financing in the CAP Pillar II The Rural development policy may co-finance The setting up of the FAS The use by the farmer of the FAS This is a choice of the Member State when it draws up its Rural Development Programme Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Possibilities of financing in the CAP Pillar II There are some further conditions to fulfill in this case, in particular: the FAS must cover not only GAEC and SMR but also occupational safety There are ceilings for financing setting-up or use by the farmer Financing is time limited Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Pre-existing systems in some MS before 2007 Time schedule Pre-existing systems in some MS before 2007 All Member States had to operate the FAS as from 1st January 2007 In 2010 the Commission will submit a report on the application of the FAS to the Council Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

SMR 2: Groundwater directive 80/68/EEC Main obligations related to water issues included in the scope of cross compliance SMR 2: Groundwater directive 80/68/EEC Prohibition of direct and indirect discharges of dangerous substances (List I: organohalogen, organophosphorus and organotin compounds) Avoiding pollution by limiting introduction of substances of List II: e.g. biocides, ammonia Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

SMR 4: Nitrates directive 91/676/EEC Land application of fertilisers Main obligations related to water issues included in the scope of cross compliance SMR 4: Nitrates directive 91/676/EEC Land application of fertilisers Capacity of storage vessels for livestock manure Limitations on the land application of fertilisers Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

SMR 9: Pesticides directive 91/414/EEC Use only authorised products Main obligations related to water issues included in the scope of cross compliance SMR 9: Pesticides directive 91/414/EEC Use only authorised products Proper use of plant protection prod (ppp): label conditions linked to the use of ppp: limitations on crops, periods of use, safe storage, water protection via bufferzones or drift reduction nozzles etc. SMR 11: Foodlaw Reg 178/2002: record keeping, traceability, MRL,… Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

- requirements concerning phosphorus pollution Main obligations related to water issues included in the scope of cross compliance Minimum requirements for fertiliser use established by national legislation (for AEM beneficiaries): must include, inter alia, - the Codes of Good Practice introduced under Directive 91/676/EEC for farms outside Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, and - requirements concerning phosphorus pollution Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Main obligations related to water issues included in the scope of cross compliance Minimum requirements for ppp use established by national legislation (for AEM beneficiaries): inter alia, have a license to use the products, meet training obligations, requirements on safe storage, checking of application machinery, rules on pesticide use close to water and other sensitive sites Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Main obligations related to water issues included in the scope of cross compliance Standards for Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC): - Protect from soil erosion - Minimum soil cover & Minimum land management reflecting site specific conditions - Maintain soil organic matter - Crop rotation & Arable stubble management - Maintain soil structure - Appropriate machinery use - Minimum level of maintenance: Permanent Pasture protection, Retention landscape features (hedges, ponds, …) - Permanent Pasture Ratio maintenance Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

New GAEC issue after the Health Check: Main obligations related to water issues included in the scope of cross compliance New GAEC issue after the Health Check: Protection and management of water: protect water against pollution and run-off, and manage the use of water - Standard on establishment of buffer strips along water courses - Standard on the use of water for irrigation: compliance with (existing) authorisation procedures Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

Reflections on the basis of the DG AGRI FAS questionnaire Problems raised by MS Discussion with MS Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009

FAS: types of problems raised by MS Problems related to existing systems: difficult to force existing (subsidised) bodies into the FAS system, added value of FAS if MS has already a system in place? High costs and not enough funding, both for MS and for farmers Start up problems: legislative changes, big effort for administration for training and approval of bodies, not enough advisors or technical equipment Monitoring is difficult Need to mix FAS advice with other events: integrated advice Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009 20

FAS notifications: discussion with MS Most MS realise the need and usefulness of FAS, not a lot MS mention problems Some MS having existing advisory services find it more difficult to integrate FAS More flexibility in prioritising wanted (done in HC) Not much priorities applied until now: it is a learning process for MS too Need for synergy with other advice themes Possibility to focus fas on specific SMR or GAEC FAS should be kept voluntary for farmers Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009 21

FAS notifications: discussion with MS More financing needed EU rules for certification of advisors Y/N ? No obligatory coverage of occupational safety Problems to reach small and hobby farmers Mandatory training for advisors necessary? Simplification of administrative burden for applications RD support MS have done serious effort to put FAS in place and now ask not to impose too big changes in the regulatory framework Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009 22

FAS: Methods of advice One to one on the farm: Intensive method Higher chance that farmer accepts solutions proposed by the advisor (persuasive method) Farmer is less afraid to ask questions or talk about individual problems on his farm Often most effective: the advisor can detect problems/wrong behaviour even if the farmer is not aware Common understanding needed for credibility: the advisor should speak the farmer’s language Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009 23

FAS: Methods of advice Telephone helpdesk: Lower cost Good chance that farmer accepts solutions proposed by the advisor as it is still a one to one method (persuasive method, possibility for farmer to react if needed) Sometimes difficult to explain individual farm problems by phone The advisor has a lesser chance to detect problems/wrong behaviour if the farmer is not aware Taylored to the individual problems on the farm Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009 24

Small group advice on farm: FAS: Methods of advice Small group advice on farm: Lower cost Some farmers dare not to explain individual farm problems or ask questions in group The example of other farms might convince the farmers Discovery of practical solutions via demonstrations Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009 25

FAS: Methods of advice General information via internet, taylored website tools, paper publications: Low cost Not real FAS advice, more a way of giving information (according to Art. 4(2) of R.73/2009): “The competent national authority shall provide the farmer, inter alia by the use of electronic means, with the list of statutory management requirements and the good agricultural and environmental condition to be respected”. Efficiency to be discussed: although perhaps taylored to specific sectors (e.g. arable farms) it is not taylored to individual farmer’s problems Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009 26

FAS: Health Check changes (Art. 12 of new R.73/2009) The management of the farm advisory system will be made easier: MSs can decide to which farmers they give priority. “Member States may determine, in accordance with objective criteria, the priority categories of farmer that have access to the farm advisory system.” The 2010 report on the farm advisory system will not necessarily have “a view to rendering it compulsory”. Workshop FAS and water - DG ENV - 21 October 2009 27