FARMING leaders have criticised "watered-down" European farming reforms introduced this week, with a meeting being called at the Great Yorkshire Show to discuss the implications.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has called a meeting on the first day of the show to discuss the impact of the measures on farmers across the region.

It will be led by CLA chief economist Professor Allan Buckwell, who has led the association's call for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and European subsidies.

"The CLA is deeply concerned about the high degree of uncertainty resulting from the watered-down deal agreed by EU agricultural ministers in Luxembourg this week," said Professor Buckwell.

"I will be talking about the actions the CLA wants the UK Government to take to reduce this uncertainty and limit the potentially damaging impact on landlord-tenant relations."

Sir Ben Gill, of Easingwold, who is president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), has also expressed concern at the reforms, aimed at producing a break, called decoupling, between subsidies and food production.

"This is a historic turning point in the Common Agricultural Policy. But as ever the devil is in the detail," he said.

"Because so many options have been given to member states we could end up with a patchwork of different policies operating across Europe which could lead to market distortions.

"We will ask the Government for full decoupling in England. But if other member states don't do this, it could potentially distort the market."

He said the NFU would be vigilant and ask for strong policing of the system.

Sir Ben said: "If not, the reformers will be the losers. UK farming must be allowed to be competitive.

"I'm encouraged by the fact that other European farmers have become aware of the benefits of full decoupling which their ministers have failed to appreciate."

He said he was "disappointed" the programme would not be introduced until 2005 or possibly 2007.

Updated: 09:45 Saturday, June 28, 2003