JIM Fitzpatrick's comments on the next round of CAP reforms reinforce the impression that attitudes within Defra are changing.
His carefully worded comments are intended to stress forcefully that there will be no change of policy when it comes it comes to negotiating the future of the CAP over the next couple of years.
Defra, the Treasury and Downing Street will make it clear in any talks that their long-term goal remains the removal of Single Payments and other forms of direct support for farmers across the EU.
That farmers should only be paid ultimately for delivering public goods, largely in the form of environmental benefits, will remain the mantra.
What the Farming Minister has signalled, however, is a new approach to how the UK handles these negotiations in Europe. A 'pragmatic, realistic' approach, as he put it.
The 2005 Defra-Treasury document outlining the idealistic, and many would argue entirely unrealistic, Government vision for the CAP has won the UK few friends in Brussels and across the EU.
More importantly, it is seen to have cost the UK influence. The Government has, at times, appeared to be isolated in CAP discussions as fellow member states have preferred to talk amongst themselves as they seek common solutions.
Mr Fitzpatrick has acknowledged that the UK will get further by recognising the reality of the situation -the overwhelming desire across the EU to retain some form of direct support post-2013 - than by continuing to demand the impossible.
With an election looming, the issue may be taken out of Mr Fitzpatrick and this Government's hands.
But whoever takes on the mantle of negotiating these vital reforms, the principle he ahs outlined should be taken on board.
Talking 'in the room with EU partners' is bound to result in a better deal for UK taxpayers and farmers than yelling from the sidelines. And being ignored.
