IFA leader warns thousands ‘face exclusion’ under AEOS scheme

THOUSANDS of small farmers are to be excluded under the AEOS scheme, the Irish Farmers Association has said.

IFA president John Bryan has met with Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to outline what he called “serious shortcomings” in the new scheme.

He criticised the decision to reduce the number of farmers eligible and the €4,000 maximum payment for AEOS in 2011.