Green peas lead to row

New CAP rules require that large arable farmers ensure that five per cent of their land is set aside as an ecological focus area (EFA). The Government has caused controversy by deciding that one of the five options available to farmers to meet the crops will be planting nitrogen fixing crops such as field beans and peas.

Environmental groups argued that this would bring no wildlife benefits, while the RSPB branded the policy 'a wasted opportunity for the environment'. However, Defra minister Owen Paterson defended it in terms of the imperative of food security. For the NFU Meurig Raymond said that it represented 'a pragmatic solution to a very difficult situation.' In other words, smart lobbying by the NFU.

Subisdising oil seed rape

The threatened reduction of oil seed rape subsidies for biofuel from 10 per cent to 5 per cent is concerning some farmers who say that it will no longer make economic sense to grow the crop. Of course, one might ask whether such a market distorting subsidy was sensible in the first place which is why the UK and other member states such as the Netherlands would like to see it reduced.

However, for farmers on heavy land in particular oil seed rape has great advantages as a break crop. There aren't that many alternatives. Peas are very sensitive to weather conditions, particularly rain, and the returns on sugar beet are not that good.

Oil seed rape is also favoured by beekeepers as it flowers early in the season and produces plenty of pollen.