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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. - 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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