Elections alert for farmers (From Craven Herald)

Elections alert for farmers

10:24am Thursday 23rd April 2009 in

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Farmers and growers across Craven are being urged to gear up for the forthcoming European elections due to take place on June 4.

The elections are important, says the NFU, because of the increasing role of the European Parliament – which in the coming months is due to take a number of key decisions on everything from sheep tagging and pollution control to the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Such is the focus on this year’s elections that the four UK farming unions have joined forces to launch a manifesto in Brussels.

This argues for a scientific approach to decision-making and for better regulation. It also calls for pro-active support both for “country of origin” labelling and a grocery supply chain code of practice.

On the subject of the CAP, it says MEPs must ensure it is truly “common” across the EU and, with a review of Less Favoured Areas ongoing, it argues that only those areas facing legitimate and real handicaps to agricultural production should be designated.

“With turnout at the last European elections a mere 38 per cent, compared to 61 per cent for the last general election, it’s clear that the majority of the voting public remain unconvinced about the importance of having their say at the ballot box,” said NFU regional director Richard Ellison.

“However, the farming industry cannot afford to take that view, especially given the influence that the European Parliament has over farming businesses both in terms of policy creation and high-impact regulation.”