Proposed reforms to the EU CAP

Good coverage of the proposed reforms to the European Union farm support policy in the Independent today - the brief details are below

There will be no change in the CAP budget of £32bn – 42 per cent of EU spending – until 2013 (as negotiated by France in 2004).
Farms receiving up to €99,999 (£80,000) in annual subsidies would lose 7 per cent from next year. Farms receiving more than €300,000 would lose 16 per cent.
Compulsory “set-aside” payments, which force cereal growers to leave 10 per cent of their land fallow, would be abolished. This will affect some of Britain’s richest landowners.
The money saved would fund programmes to support smaller, traditional farms and “green” projects to, among other things, boost wildlife and clean up rivers and streams.
Milk quotas, imposed from 1983 to reduce dairy surpluses, would be eased to reduce a growing shortage of milk. The quotas would vanish in 2015.
The plans must be approved by all 27 members of the EU.

Will the EU bite the bullet and agree fundamental reform of the CAP - dont bet your life on it, there are far too many vested interests - the CAP is a major net cost for the UK as a member of the EU.