€6.7m cost to bring ‘forgotten farmers’ to national average

It would require €6.7m to bring direct payments to “forgotten farmers” up to the national average entitlement value of €266/ha (including greening).

Some 3,500 farmers with entitlements below the national average, who were under the age of 40 in 2015 and established farms prior to 2008, are classed as “forgotten farmers” by the Department of Agriculture.

The figures were released by the Department in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil spokesperson for agriculture Charlie McConalogue.

Each of these farmers would receive an additional €1,914 in direct payments if their entitlement values were increased.

In 2015, Department analysis showed there were 3,900 farmers in this bracket and it would take €12.28m to bring their payments to the national average.

Convergence

Through the process of convergence or flattening of payments, all entitlements are now at least 60% of the national average.

However, the remaining 3,500 forgotten farmers are being “left down” by the Government, according to Charlie McConalogue.

McConalogue said these farmers desperately wanted inclusion in the national reserve and ongoing CAP negotiations should ensure “this wrong is finally put right”.

The largest proportion of the forgotten farmers are along the western seaboard. There are 425 young farmers in Co Donegal alone who would benefit to the tune of €953,467 if entitlements were increased to the national average.

The 340 farmers left out in Co Kerry would receive over €1m. There are also a high number of forgotten farmers in counties Cork (365), Mayo (274), and Galway (257).

Action

McConalogue said talk of generational renewal rang hollow if not backed up by real action: “My party’s policy is that this group of forgotten farmers must be accommodated into the national reserve and a funding mechanism secured in ongoing CAP negotiations.”