SHARING OPTIONS:
A range of issues across the farming sectors were highlighted at IFA meetings over the last week. \ Ramona Farrelly
Ahead of its AGM on Thursday, the IFA held four regional meetings where farmers asked questions of IFA president Tim Cullinan and director of policy/chief economist Tadhg Buckley.
Armchair farmers, convergence, designated land, the Sheep Welfare Scheme and carbon sequestration were all issues raised by farmers. Here’s what they said.
Payments and convergence
Henry Burns said: “In 2005, a typical suckler farmer on 100 acres had €20,000 in basic payments and €9,000 in REPS. That’s now shrunk to €14,000 and €5,000 maximum from GLAS. That’s the gap that needs to be filled in CAP payments, the marketplace isn’t filling it in any way.” Tim Mulcahy said that “convergence is robbery” and urged the IFA to fight continued convergence.