Lots of misinformation on this thread. The idea, as I understand it to help older farmers to retire to allow younger people into the industry. The average age of UK farmers is pushing 60. Many are asset rich but cash poor and cant afford to retire. As far as I know there is no connection to the Australia deal. The subsidies that farmers receive basically mean that supermarkets can buy food cheaper. Ultimately it is the consumer that benefits. The payments were originally brought in to boost food production when the country couldn't produce enough. Farmers used this income to improve efficiencies and ultimately started to produce surpluses in some areas. Going forward all payments to farmers will be "earned" by protecting the environment. This is optional so if you farm flat out intensively you will lose your payments. If you take measures to protect the environment then you will be compensated for the loss of income from your core business. I am in favour of this new format as I already farm with the environment in mind and have been in environment schemes for the last 15 years. The only caveat is that the balance has to be right between food production, employment and the environment.