“Farmers have been waiting for many years for the red tape and form filling to reduce, and for years DARD have continued to pile on the paperwork.”

This was the criticism from Ulster Unionist Agriculture spokesperson Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, as she questioned DARD officials at this week’s Agriculture Committee following the deal on CAP.  

She said: “For far too long DARD has consistently failed to reduce farm bureaucracy, and the Department will no doubt view this reform of the CAP as another opportunity to ‘gold plate’ European legislation and place new layers of paperwork onto our farmers. This must not be allowed to happen.  

“If DARD is serious about delivering for the industry as a whole that Department needs to completely change its mind-set.  There is an internal target to reduce farm bureaucracy by a quarter and it is scandalous that they are woefully failing to do so.  

“It’s true that the reform of CAP has delivered a mixed bag, but as my colleague Jim Nicholson MEP has said, ‘the devil is in the detail.’ I am urging DARD to look for the opportunities to benefit our farmers, and not to benefit the Department.  

“At the committee this week I questioned a DARD official on their view of how the CAP will impact on farm bureaucracy.  He confirmed what many have feared, that there will be more paperwork for our farmers resulting from CAP reform, and not less.  

“DARD needs to be looking at ways of reducing the burden on farmers, especially with the coming relocation of their headquarters to Ballykelly.  Information provided to the Committee has suggested that the vast majority of DARD staff are not content to work at Ballykelly with the move and upheaval which relocating to County Londonderry would entail.  

“It is clear that the changes resulting from CAP will be implemented at a time when DARD officials are engaged in a major relocation exercise.  Given the serious implications for our farmers, I would urge DARD to prioritise their needs ahead of those of the Department.  

“CAP has provided an opportunity to help farmers and the industry meet the challenges of the future.  It is my hope that DARD is able to up its game and rise to meet that challenge in the interests of every single farmer in Northern Ireland.”