Macra: Proposed agri-environment scheme must help new entrants

MACRA na Feirme has insisted that the proposed new agri-environment scheme must accommodate new entrants to farming.

Michael Gowing, president, said it must also accommodate young farmers who were not previously involved in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS).

“Otherwise it will discriminate against new entrants,” he said, stressing that the scheme is by no means a replacement for the REPS.

“Macra has had a lot of feedback from frustrated young farmers questioning where the end of the cuts will be, and how much more their industry must be forced to take.

“The initial position by the Department of Agriculture that this scheme will be targeted at REPS participants who exit REPS, would be very discriminatory against new entrants to farming,” he said.

Mr Gowing said young farmers and new entrants have been particularly affected in the last year from policy changes in October 2008 and supplementary 2009 budgets and the subsequent closure of young farmer schemes.

“Young farmers need to be a high priority in this new scheme and must be allowed access the scheme over the four years,” he said.

Mr Gowing said the application process should not require any third-party certification by Teagasc or an agricultural consultant as the amount of payment under the scheme was likely to be low and could be quickly absorbed by administration fees.

There should be no necessity to have separate plans drawn up to participate in the scheme, he said.