Changes to six farm schemes have been sought by the Department of Agriculture in a submission just made to the EU Commission on Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP). They are TAMS, GLAS, LEADER, Knowledge Transfer, Organics and the Burren Programme.
EU member states can apply once a year to amend their Rural Development Programmes. The Department submitted its request to Brussels on 31 December after consultation with IFA and other interest groups.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the Commission is broadly supportive of the changes requested but has sought further information on changes proposed to the Burren Programme.
For TAMS, the Department is seeking inclusion of grant aid for tillage farm measures, sheep fencing and rainwater harvesting. Tillage measures proposed include precision farming equipment, grain stores and storage equipment and low disturbance cultivation equipment. For Knowledge Transfer, it’s proposed that a mixed enterprise farmer can join two groups, with a 50% payment for the farmer and the facilitator. It’s requested that partnerships can qualify for two full payments. Amendments for LEADER include grant aid for second-hand equipment and changes to administration costs. The changes proposed for GLAS and Organics are relatively minor. The Department is proposing that the Burren Programme be reclassified as a Locally Led Agri-environment Scheme. Previously, it was funded under Pillar I.
This week, IFA rural development chair Flor McCarthy said it was important that the EU Commission give speedy approval for the proposed changes.
“The Department must now start work on follow-on amendments that it will propose in 2016. We have made submissions on this to all of the political parties in advance of the general election.”
Changes to six farm schemes have been sought by the Department of Agriculture in a submission just made to the EU Commission on Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP). They are TAMS, GLAS, LEADER, Knowledge Transfer, Organics and the Burren Programme.
EU member states can apply once a year to amend their Rural Development Programmes. The Department submitted its request to Brussels on 31 December after consultation with IFA and other interest groups.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the Commission is broadly supportive of the changes requested but has sought further information on changes proposed to the Burren Programme.
For TAMS, the Department is seeking inclusion of grant aid for tillage farm measures, sheep fencing and rainwater harvesting. Tillage measures proposed include precision farming equipment, grain stores and storage equipment and low disturbance cultivation equipment. For Knowledge Transfer, it’s proposed that a mixed enterprise farmer can join two groups, with a 50% payment for the farmer and the facilitator. It’s requested that partnerships can qualify for two full payments. Amendments for LEADER include grant aid for second-hand equipment and changes to administration costs. The changes proposed for GLAS and Organics are relatively minor. The Department is proposing that the Burren Programme be reclassified as a Locally Led Agri-environment Scheme. Previously, it was funded under Pillar I.
This week, IFA rural development chair Flor McCarthy said it was important that the EU Commission give speedy approval for the proposed changes.
“The Department must now start work on follow-on amendments that it will propose in 2016. We have made submissions on this to all of the political parties in advance of the general election.”
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: