The Taoiseach doesn’t often turn up at farm scheme announcements, so we should have known that this was the big one.

The press conference called for Wednesday morning was to announce the multi-billion funding for the CAP strategic plan. Micheál Martin said: “€2.3bn of national funding in rural development measures over the 2023-2027 period emphatically demonstrates the Government’s continuing commitment to farmers.”

But Minister Charlie McConalogue then went much further, providing the detail of future direct payments, as well as schemes and co-funding levels. CAP unveiled in one fell swoop.

It quickly became clear that the direct payments farmers will receive in 2023, in just 728 days time, will differ drastically from those that landed into their bank accounts on Monday. CRISS, more commonly known as the frontloading scheme, will be at the higher 10% level. Eco schemes will be at 25%, with young farmers and the National Reserve taking another almost 6% from current payments.

The announcements continued in a torrent. “The total funding for Pillar II schemes will be at €3.861bn,” said Minister McConalogue, with co-funding “significantly increased from 47% to 60%”. Arguments will rage over whether much of the extra money comes from the already announced €1.5bn carbon tax fund, but it’s certainly money for farm schemes.

Overall, two eco schemes side-by-side will target 50,000 farmers, paying a maximum of either €10,000 or €7,000. Organic farming gets a fivefold funding boost. ANC payments are fully protected, €260m will go to suckler payments with another €100m for sheep and €50m for straw incorporation. Something for everyone in the audience.