Last week’s revelations on proposed new rules for the trading of entitlements have been described by auctioneers and solicitors specialising in the trading of entitlements as adding to widespread confusion.

One auctioneer told the Irish Farmers Journal: “The level of phone calls we have been receiving is increasing by the week.

“We have a lot of clients who are coming to the end of long-term leases and we have no idea of what way entitlements will be handled in 2022 or when the new CAP comes into place.

We badly need clarity

“Those leasing out entitlements are reluctant to enter any agreement and you couldn’t blame them, while where the leases also concern land, the lessees are on edge about land availability, especially given where fertiliser prices are going.

“We badly need clarity and long before the normal February or March timeframe.”

There are also concerns among those tied in to long-term leases as to how the introduction of front-loading, eco schemes and convergence will affect these leases.

We were acutely aware that convergence would likely be an issue but CRISS or front-loading and eco schemes is a whole other matter

One solicitor told the Irish Farmers Journal about the type of queries their practice is dealing with on a daily basis.

“The majority of long-term leases we are involved in have made provision for some changes due to the current CAP reform.

“We were acutely aware that convergence would likely be an issue but CRISS or front-loading and eco schemes is a whole other matter.

“Some farmers leasing entitlements are saying eco-scheme payments should stay with whoever is farming the land, while others are not in a position to draw down payments under front-loading as they already have more than 30ha worth of entitlements.

“There will be a lot of leases which will need to be reviewed and terms renegotiated,” the solicitor said.