This year we will see a revolution in subsidies for farmers. The new act will deprive financial support of people who, for example, have land but do not conduct agricultural activities. The regulations will enter into force in March.
There will be new rules regarding subsidies for farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture has created a draft law that aims to strengthen the position of professionally active people working in the countryside. The so-called Act on the active farmer is intended to limit the practice of applying for payments by landowners who do not conduct agricultural activity. The new regulations are already in place at the end of the legislative path. The Senate did not propose any amendments to the act.
– The act aims to ensure that money from the EU and national budgets will be divided fairly and will go to those farmers who are actually farmers and run agricultural activities – said the Minister of Agriculture, Stefan Krajewski, presenting the act to senators.
He added that “that is not the purpose of this bill excluding anyone from aid if this person is able to prove that he conducts agricultural activity.
Who will be an active farmer according to the regulations?
How can you confirm that you are an active farmer? People who meet the indicated criteria will be considered as such, such as: having animals or use selected payments Whether investment support. This will also mean incurring the costs of agricultural activities or obtaining income from the sale of agricultural products.
According to the new regulations, farmers will be able to prove that they conduct agricultural activity by submitting one of the following documents:
- an invoice or equivalent proof of purchase of fertilizers, plant protection products, seed and propagation material,
- an invoice or equivalent proof of using the service related to agrotechnical treatments;
- confirmation of purchase of agricultural insurance;
- an invoice or equivalent proof for the sale of agricultural produce,
- proof of payment of rent or hired work,
- cultivation contract,
- delivery contract.
The remaining farmers will have to document incurring minimal costs agricultural activities or obtaining revenue from the sale of agricultural products. The amount of these costs or revenues will be determined separately regulation Minister of Agriculture, which will be submitted for public consultations in the coming days.
Transitional solutions: what are they?
Importantly, in order not to increase the burden on small farms, the Act is introduced for this year transitional solution. They will make it easier for these farms to adapt to the new regulations. Transitional solutions mean that in 2026, small farms will not have to document costs or income from the sale of agricultural products. This applies to approx. 600 thousand farms.
This year, those who last year received direct subsidies in an amount not exceeding the equivalent of 1,125 euros. Why this particular amount? Because it corresponds to the limit of payments per farm under payments for small farms, i.e no larger than 5 ha.
Now the bill will go to the president. The new regulations are to come into force March 15.
