Farmers’ incomes defended by FG

RURAL development will not be served by hiving off farmers’ incomes, especially at a time when the value of the single farm payment is declining in real terms, Fine Gael agriculture spokesperson Michael Creed, TD, has warned.

He said Minister Brendan Smith’s “half-hearted defence” of the proposals in the health check of the Common Agricultural Policy to increase modulation (the transfer of funds from the single farm payment to rural development) must set alarm bells ringing.

Conditions favouring the spread of potato blight will occur in places over the weekend. There will be opportunities for spraying.