Listen: tillage farmers' views on CAP

With each passing day, we learn more about proposals for the next round of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

For example, last week we learned that MEPs have voted in favour of a flat-rate BPS payment of €185/ha by 2027 (€266 including greening) as part of the next CAP.

Eco schemes

Earlier in the month MEPs voted to dedicate 20% of the direct payments budget towards eco schemes, which aim to support the environment, climate and animal welfare measures.

Just last week, European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan also hinted that a young farmer loan scheme is currently being looked at.

But how do these changes stand to impact tillage farmers? We spoke to one From the Tramlines tillage farmer, Donal O’Keeffe, from Westmeath, who gave his views on the matter.

Greening

In relation to the three-crop rule, Donal felt that that, while the principles were good, there were better ways of doing it.

“The three-crop rule was too much of a sledge hammer to crack a nut,” he explained.

He feels that promoting rotations and developing cover crops are just a number of practical measures which could have better met the greening measures.

In the future, he thinks that minimum tillage and direct drilling establishment systems will have a place, but that they shouldn’t force farmers to do this.

Capping of CAP

He doesn’t have any issues with capping the total value of the BPS payment.

However, when it came to convergence, he feels that tillage farmers will be hit hardest by the measure.

“If entitlements values are reduced, cereals will become less viable, especially in a rental and conacre situation,” he says.

Listen to the full interview below

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