Single payments to fall, claims ICMSA

A PROPOSAL by the European Commission to increase the rate of modulation by 2% per annum from 2010 to 2013 would represent a total cut of 8% in a farmer’s single payment at a time when the payment itself is falling in real terms, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association claimed yesterday.

ICMSA Beef and Cattle Committee chairman Martin McMahon said a recent statement by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan that she will reject the commission’s proposal was welcome.

“While promises were given to the effect that modulation funds would come back to farmers through rural development schemes, the reality has been the money was simply absorbed into the overall budget and farmers have seen no benefit,” he said.