The IFA president launched the initiative at the IFA Hill Sheep Farmers’ Forum in Newport, Co Mayo at which all issues relating to the survival and development of the hill farming sector were discussed.

Healy said the ten policy actions, if implemented, could have a very positive impact on hill farming and on wider rural communities, “Hill areas are generally economically vulnerable and policy responses from government are needed to arrest the decline that has become more apparent in recent times," he said.

"The IFA action plan is geared at positively promoting the sustainable development of hill areas.”

The ten point plan includes:

1. New €25m sheep scheme: to be introduced in Budget 2017, simple and effective, with minimal costs and bureaucracy on farmers, involving a menu of optional measures, including options that suit hill farmers.

2. GLAS: Increase in payments under GLAS. The €5,000 cap removed from the general scheme as well as the €7,000 limit for GLAS+. Increase in Commonage and Natura payment to €150/ha with greater flexibilities in Management Plans.

3. Areas of Natural Constraint - €25m ANC increase: Programme for Government increase brought forward to Budget 2017. Increase payments up to a maximum of €6,000 in hill areas to better reflect the natural handicaps in upland areas.

4. Knowledge Transfer: Special Hill Sheep Knowledge Transfer measure, with a payment of €1,000 per participant. This would help hill farmers embrace the most up-to-date Teagasc research and should also include a Bord Bia initiative on market requirements and promotion for light lamb.

5. Beef Data and Genomics Programme: Payment of €200/cow should apply for hill farmers.

6. Targeted Agri-Environment Output Scheme: A special upland environmental scheme similar to the Burren to reward farmers for collectively managing their farms under the locally-led targeted Environmental scheme.

7. Eligible Land: Recent flexibilities on eligible land must allow farmers to claim land where they are not allowed to improve, such as Natura land.

8. TAMS: Increase in standard costings to reflect the higher investment costs in hill areas where planning approval and other Natura restrictions apply

9. Designated Land: Where restrictions are imposed on farming in designated land, compensation must be paid through the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme.

10. Farm Assist: To support low income farmers, the restoration of the income and child disregards in the means test for Farm Assist must be a priority in the current review of the scheme. In addition, the related Rural Social Scheme should allow more places in peripheral areas as community employment type schemes play a vital role in these marginal areas where economic opportunities are limited.

IFA Hill Chairman Pat Dunne said that incomes of hill farmers are the lowest, according to the 2014 Teagasc National Farm Survey. The average farm income in hill areas is €16,338 with direct payments representing 100% or more of income.

Dunne said "a concerted campaign across a wide range of areas will be necessary to deal with the low-income crisis and decline in hill farmer numbers".

More to come on from the IFA Hill sheep forum later on www.farmersjournal.ie

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IFA hill sheep farmer forum this Monday