IFA to highlight shortcomings in new scheme to replace REPS

IFA PRESIDENT John Bryan said that he would be contacting the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith immediately to highlight some serious shortcomings that need to be addressed in the new Agri-Environmental Scheme to replace REPS, which the Department of Agriculture is proposing.

He said farmers must be in a position to get an average payment of €5,000 with reduced compliance costs and the Minister for Agriculture must ensure that the new scheme delivers this.

IFA National Rural Development chairman Tom Turley said farmers will be very angry that their payment levels will be reduced under the new scheme.