The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is to hold a series of CAP information meetings throughout the west and northwest, with payment redistribution top of the agenda.
The INHFA said upcoming CAP reforms would see significant changes in the make-up of schemes, which would affect farm incomes for the coming decade.
INHFA president Colm O’Donnell said CAP needed to become an election issue, as it had the potential to deliver “a major income boost for western farmers”.
He said such a boost would “only happen through a fairer redistribution” of direct payments and a commitment to ensure a fund of at least €750m for rural development schemes, such as GLAS and BDGP.
Payments
Farmers in Connacht and Donegal received €295m through direct payments, O’Donnell said.
“While these payments have increased by over €20m through the current CAP programme, there is the potential of a further increase of over €50m if we continue on the convergence model towards the full flattening of payments to €250/ha.”
He said, at present, direct payments benefited larger land holders on better land, particularly through the greening payment.
“Here we see many farmers receive less than €50/ha for adhering to specific measures relating to climate change, while others receive over €200/ha for adhering to the exact same measure,” O’Donnell said.
The greening portion of direct payments is to be replaced by eco schemes. O’Donnell expressed concerns that the conditionality around these could pose problems.
Meetings
The times and locations for the meetings are:
Thursday 23 January: Sligo/Leitrim, Clayton Hotel, Sligo.Tuesday 28 January: Galway west constituency, Peacocks Hotel, Maam Cross, Co Galway.Wednesday 29 January: Roscommon/east Galway, Castlerea Mart, Co Roscommon.Friday 31 January: Mayo constituency, Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo. Read more
Election battle on farming heating up
Letter: consequences of convergence
The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is to hold a series of CAP information meetings throughout the west and northwest, with payment redistribution top of the agenda.
The INHFA said upcoming CAP reforms would see significant changes in the make-up of schemes, which would affect farm incomes for the coming decade.
INHFA president Colm O’Donnell said CAP needed to become an election issue, as it had the potential to deliver “a major income boost for western farmers”.
He said such a boost would “only happen through a fairer redistribution” of direct payments and a commitment to ensure a fund of at least €750m for rural development schemes, such as GLAS and BDGP.
Payments
Farmers in Connacht and Donegal received €295m through direct payments, O’Donnell said.
“While these payments have increased by over €20m through the current CAP programme, there is the potential of a further increase of over €50m if we continue on the convergence model towards the full flattening of payments to €250/ha.”
He said, at present, direct payments benefited larger land holders on better land, particularly through the greening payment.
“Here we see many farmers receive less than €50/ha for adhering to specific measures relating to climate change, while others receive over €200/ha for adhering to the exact same measure,” O’Donnell said.
The greening portion of direct payments is to be replaced by eco schemes. O’Donnell expressed concerns that the conditionality around these could pose problems.
Meetings
The times and locations for the meetings are:
Thursday 23 January: Sligo/Leitrim, Clayton Hotel, Sligo.Tuesday 28 January: Galway west constituency, Peacocks Hotel, Maam Cross, Co Galway.Wednesday 29 January: Roscommon/east Galway, Castlerea Mart, Co Roscommon.Friday 31 January: Mayo constituency, Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo. Read more
Election battle on farming heating up
Letter: consequences of convergence
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