Angry farmers visit TDs’ clinics in protest at 50% AEOS funding cut

HUNDREDS of irate farmers visited their local TDs’ clinics at the weekend to voice their anger at a 50% cut in funding for the environmental farm scheme AEOS.

The farmers, primarily IFA members whose incomes will be hit by the cuts, said the Government had failed to deliver on the AEOS funding which was promised prior to the election.

IFA rural development chair Tom Turley said that many farmers leaving REPS and joining AEOS will only get an average of €3,000.

“For a low-income sector of farming, this is a devastating blow and is significantly acute in SAC and commonage areas where farming activities are severely restricted,” said Mr Turley.

The meetings with TDs followed an emergency IFA executive council in Portlaoise on Friday which heard strong criticism of Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney for his failure to deliver a meaningful AEOS Scheme which was announced in last year’s budget and promised to farmers in the recent general election.

Mr Coveney said last week that rolling out the new AEOS scheme has been problematic as the previous government had announced a scheme for 2011 without putting budgetary arrangements in place.

IFA president John Bryan said: “There is huge anger among farmers, who were promised that the scheme would be similar to last year.

“The minister’s first major decision has left farmers very disappointed. He must re-examine the scheme and look at ways to increase the number of farmers who can qualify at last year’s rate.”

John Bryan said agri-environment payments such as AEOS and REPS are a vital part of the farming system.