European Commission ‘totally out of touch’ with agricultural realities

THE European Commission is totally out of touch with agricultural realities, according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association.

President Malcolm Thompson said he was shocked at reports that the Commission plans to slash Common Agricultural Policy spending post-2013.

He said the reports say the cuts include proposals for major reform — zoning in on public goods payments and the creation of a third pillar to combat climate change.

Mr Thompson said the reality is that there isn’t a single farmer in Ireland, in any sector — beef, suckling, sheep, dairy or tillage — that will record a profit in 2009. Similar stories apply right across Europe.

Stability is needed in agricultural policy, not incessant reform where farmers’ plans are scuppered by constant chopping and changing.

Mr Thompson said instead of reforming the funding framework, the EU needs to face up to multinational retailers.

“It is high time that the EU tackled excessive retailer margins based on driving down farm-gate price to a level less than what we got 20 years ago,” he said

Mr Thompson also pointed out that Irish farmers were now very wary of transferring support to rural development programmes in the light of REPS and Disadvantaged Area payments being cut by the Government.

“It is a bit rich to hear about public goods payments when the environment public goods delivered under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme are being phased out,” he said.