Farm heads criticise REPS 4 changes

FARM leaders have criticised European Commission changes to the payment system for the new Rural Environment Protection Scheme — REPS 4.

IFA Rural Development Committee chairman Tom Turley said the move away from an early payments system which has been a key feature of farmers joining the REPS schemes for the past 14 years will impact negatively on uptake in the years ahead.

Mr Turley said REPS has shown itself to be one of the flagship agri-environmental schemes in the EU delivering huge benefits to the countryside.