Farmers in line €1bn payment

A €1 BILLION boost is on the way for the country’s farmers, Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith announced at the National Ploughing Championships in Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny.

He confirmed that agreement was reached with the European Commission in Brussels earlier in the day for an advance €750 million payment to be made under the 2008 single payment scheme.

Mr Smith also announced that disadvantaged areas payments, totalling €250m, to 100,000 farmers around the country started yesterday.