Farming in the west ‘depends on properly funded farm schemes’

FARMING in the west depends on properly funded farm schemes, a forum hosted by Connacht Gold was told in Claremorris, Co Mayo, last night.

Irish Farmers Association president John Bryan said more than 20,000 farmers in the west participate in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), which is one-third of the overall national figure.

The scheme, valued at €125 million in the region, provides a huge economic spin-off in one of the most disadvantaged parts of the country.