Govt Not Interested in Supporting Active Farmers

IFA President Tim Cullinan said the message from the Government announcement this morning is that it’s not interested in supporting active farming.

Some key aspects of the Minister’s announcement Pillar 1 85% Convergence 25% Eco schemes 10% CRISS (first c30ha) Capping €66k on BISS Protein crops €7m up from €3m Pillar 2 Schemes over 5 years (2023-27) €1.5bn Environment Scheme €1.25bn ANC €300m TAMS (awaiting breakdown) €260m Suckler Carbon Efficiency €256m Organics €100m Sheep Welfare €71m Knowledge Transfer €50m Straw incorporation €25m Dairy Calf Beef Scheme

“A cohort of our most productive farmers are going to be devastated by the CAP decisions at EU level. The Minister’s own decisions today will do nothing to help these farmers,” he said.

“The total emphasis is on rewarding farmers for reducing production. The Greens are clearly running the show with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael being led by the nose,” he said.

“The Ministers plan to allocate the maximum 25% of every farmer’s Basic Payment to so-called ‘Eco-schemes’ is bizarre, as the Minister himself fought to secure flexibility on this at EU level,” he said.

At present only a third of Irish farmers are viable. These announcements today will reduce the number of viable farmers.

He said that the funding for suckler cows, ewes and the tillage sector was totally inadequate.

IFA President Tim Cullinan pointed out that over €2bn of the funding announced today was EU funding, which had been announced previously, while €749 million was from carbon tax which was committed in the Programme for Government.

“For the Government to say they have increased co-funding for the CAP by 50% is disingenuous as this includes the Government’s promised carbon tax allocation,” he said.

“The irony is that the carbon tax income is generated by active farmers, who have no alternative fuel source. Yet, they are the ones being nailed by these reforms and now by our own Government,” he said.