In reply to ian caton:
Yes I know that "claiming CAP" looks like weird shorthand, I assume summo refers to claiming subsidies provided by the EU under the CAP.
With that in mind, which part of his statement:
> It's been a never ending race to the bottom that has got CAP to where it is now, trying to produce food to be competitive globally. Which given the costs and standard of living in some countries is next to impossible. It lurched from over supply with lakes and mountains, then set aside where folk were paid to do nothing... It's improved now with some basic environmental elements, but it's not solved any of the problems is up for review again. It's just a very expensive sticky plaster.
do you disagree with?
I am not a farmer, but come from a farming village, my brother is an agricultural engineer, so I have some contact into the business, and quite a few farmers I know openly admit that they are mainly farming subsidies (e.g. growing sunflowers specifically when there is a premium on reducing oil production, so they just plow them under after cashing in, saves the hassle of the harvest).
I disagree, though, with his predictions for what will likely happen to UK farming when the UK withdraws from the protection of the common market and CAP, and has to renegotiate with US and Brazil.
My worry would be that UK farmers will be screwed over by asymmetric deals, the same way the EU now sadly treats farmers in Africa and Asia (in terms of reciprocal market access, tarriffs, standards, etc.).
CB