Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) president Owen O’Driscoll is calling for clarity on transitional measures being proposed under the current CAP.

He said that the relationship between the association and the Department of Agriculture will be “even more important” in the coming months so that the ACA can get clarity on many issues on the CAP transition measures.

The ACA AGM was held in Portlaoise on Friday 6 March, where members heard from secretary general of the Department (DAFM) Brendan Gleeson and professor Alan Matthews.

They spoke about Brexit, CAP reform and Irish agricultural policy.

Rollover participation

Matthews said that farmers must know soon whether there will be a rollover participation in schemes such as GLAS and the BDGP, until the next CAP reform is in place.

“Farmers have made significant investments and adjustments in their animal breeding policies with the help of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and it would be reprehensible that these advancements would end prematurely without a new support scheme,” said the professor.

O’Driscoll said “advanced animal breeding policies are just one of the scientific areas that will assist farmers meet their targets under climate change and to abandon a programme such as the BDGP at this time would not be helpful”.

He said the absence of a rollover will have devastating effects on farmers.

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