Page "Common Agricultural Policy" Paragraph 80

The change in subsidies is intended to be completed by 2011, but individual governments have some freedom to decide how the new scheme will be introduced.

The UK government has decided to run a dual system of subsidies in England, each year transferring a larger proportion of the total payment to the new scheme.

Payments under the old scheme were frozen at their levels averaged over 2002 – 2003 and reduce each subsequent year.

This allows farmers in England a period where their income is maintained, but which they can use to change farm practices to accord with the new regime.

Other governments have chosen to wait, and change the system in one go at the latest possible time.

Governments also have limited discretion to continue to direct a small proportion of the total subsidy to support specific crops.

Alterations to the qualifying rules meant that many small landowners became eligible to apply for grants and the Rural Payments Agency in England received double the previous number of applications ( 110, 000 ).