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Convegrence and eco schemes were the hot topics at an IFA CAP meeting. \ Philip Doyle
Farmers are apprehensive that eco schemes in the next CAP could result in farm payments going to vets and advisers, while creating added costs for farmers.
At an IFA CAP meeting in north Leinster/Ulster, concerns were raised about draft proposals put forward by the Department of Agriculture.
One farmer, Paddy Denning, said: “On animal welfare, I can see the vets rubbing their hands, because they’ll probably have to give a cert every year and maybe charge €200 for it. You’ll probably have an adviser then doing something else for you and that’ll be another couple hundred euros.
Convergence, eco schemes and flexibility were key IFA priorities. / Philip Doyle
IFA president Tim Cullinan has hit out at claims that the current eco-scheme proposals will be rewarding to farmers, insisting they will result in more unviable farmers”.
The comments came ahead of trilogue negotiations in Brussels, which include the European Commission, the European Parliament and ministers, working to finalise the details of the new CAP.
“The EU is proposing to cut between 20% and 30% from every farmer’s basic payment and to only give some of it back. It’s not rewarding farmers, it’s penalising them, Cullinan said.
“With the European Parliament holding out for 100% convergence of per-hectare payments, the reform risks devastating the incomes of farmers with higher per-hectare payments regardless of how few hectares they have.