Extremadura relaxes CAP requirements for the 2027 campaign

The General Directorate of Community Agricultural Policy of the Regional Government of Extremadura has established the flexibility regime and the technical provisions that beneficiaries of the Common Agricultural Policy aids must comply with for the 2027 campaign. This is done through the Resolution of October 30, 2026, published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura (DOE) number 216, of November 10, 2026, with the official reference 2026062809. The regulation takes effect the day following its publication.

Regulatory Framework and Authorization

The resolution is based on Royal Decree 1048/2022, of December 27, which regulates interventions in the form of direct payments and the common requirements of the CAP Strategic Plan. This framework was modified by Royal Decree 1028/2024, of October 8, which flexibilized the design of eco-schemes, and subsequently by Royal Decree 916/2025, of October 14, following the modification of the national strategic plan approved by the European Commission on August 14, 2025.

The text also invokes Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 and Regulation (EU) 2024/1468, of May 14, 2024, and is issued under the third final provision of Decree 3/2025, of January 21, published in the DOE on January 24, 2025, and Article 4 of Decree 110/2026, of May 26, regarding the organic structure of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Environment. The stated objective is to provide legal certainty to farmers and livestock breeders and to avoid discontinuities in crop planning decisions.

Lower Livestock Load and Laxer Rotation

Annex I contains the requirement flexibilities. Regarding eco-schemes, a reduction in the minimum livestock load is authorized:

• Humid pastures: 0.2 LSU/ha.
• Mediterranean pastures: 0.1 LSU/ha.

Maximum loads do not vary and remain at 2 LSU/ha and 1.2 LSU/ha, respectively. In direct seeding, a single superficial vertical operation of no more than 20 centimeters will be permitted, which preserves the stubble and serves only to remove the hard crust of the soil.

In spontaneous, sown, and inert vegetation covers, superficial operations to prepare for sowing and maintenance operations of up to 20 centimeters are permitted, provided that the soil does not remain bare at any time of the year. The cover must remain alive on the land for a minimum of four months starting from November 15, 2026.

For the activation of Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) rights in pasture enclosures with grazing activity, a load lower than 0.1 LSU/ha will be considered a risk situation. Additionally, the rotation obligation in the crop rotation eco-scheme drops from 50% to 25% of the cropland, with percentages for improving crops and legumes at 10% and 5%.

Mowing deadlines, rice, and animal counting

Annex II sets out the technical provisions. For sustainable mowing, a non-utilization period for the pasture areas subject to mowing is established for at least 60 consecutive days starting from June 1, 2027. For water-based crops, the period for maintaining the water layer in rice will be 90 days, counted from October 1 of the previous year to September 30.

For the animal count, the reference dates will be January 1, April 30, June 30, and August 15 of the application year, according to the databases of the Animal Traceability System (Badigex and SITRAN). For fattening pigs in montanera (acorn grazing), the period spans from October 1 of the previous year to April 15. In extensive grazing, the count runs from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027, with a minimum grazing period of 120 days and the valid zootechnical types from Article 30.1 of Royal Decree 1048/2022.

In rotation with improving species, the legume must be the majority in the mixture (more than 50%) throughout the cycle. Cover management will be carried out by mechanical means with residue deposition of the mulching type—mowing, clearing, or rolling—or through own or third-party livestock, with occasional access.

Impact on the sector

The resolution arrives in the fourth year of application of the national Strategic Plan and adjusts requirements that condition the 2027 single application. The new minimum livestock loads, the reduction of rotation to 25%, and the animal counting calendars determine both access to eco-schemes and the activation of BRS (Basic Payment Scheme) rights. Against the resolution, which does not exhaust the administrative route, an appeal for reversal (recurso de alzada) may be filed before the Counselor of Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Environment or before the general directorate itself within one month from the day following its publication, in application of Articles 121 and 122 of Law 39/2015, of October 1.

Source: Official Gazette of Extremadura (DOE), no. 216, of November 10, 2026, Resolution of October 30, 2026, of the General Directorate of Community Agricultural Policy (official reference: 2026062809).