EU wet land ban on combines branded ‘stupid’ by NFU peer
(Yorkshire Post, 23 October 2008)European law which bans farmers from using their combine harvesters on wet soil has been criticised by prominent members of the House of Lords.
Former Commons Speaker, Baroness Boothroyd, described the laws as “ludicrous” while former National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Lord Plumb referred to them as “one of the most stupid ever” during question time in the House of Lords.
Contrary to what the Yorkshire Post reported, Brussels has no rules on whether combine harvesters can be used on wet soil. Member States are required to establish national standards on good agricultural and environmental conditions and as part of that the UK has decided to adopt a prohibition on using such machinery on waterlogged soil or saturated ground. This is the responsibility of the UK government and not part of EU legislation.
