After 25 years of area-based support payments and most recently moves towards environmental payments as part of CAP, coupled income supports for livestock have found their way back into the latest draft proposals from the European Commission this week.

The document clearly states that coupled income support is an option in the next CAP, listed in second position under area base support.

It goes on to say that member states may provide coupled income support to farmers in specific agricultural sectors and products.

Coupled supports would take the form of an annual payment per eligible hectare or per animal equivalent.

It could pave the way to reintroduce a suckler cow premium.

While in theory this would be new, one could argue that the current Suckler Cow Efficiency Programme and the National Beef Welfare Scheme are coupled support – albeit they are paid on an area basis.

Jostling

With decisions to be left to national governments, the move will lead to a lot of jostling for position in terms of supporting specific sectors with coupled supports.

Maximum stocking rates will be imposed on any coupled support in nitrates vulnerable zones.

The move to the option of coupled support comes as Europe grapples with a 7% decline in cattle numbers in 2025 due to Bluetongue outbreaks and increased nitrogen based stocking rate restrictions.