IFA maintains single farm payment best way to safeguard family farms

THE Single Farm Payment is still the best mechanism to safeguard the future of the European family farm, according to IFA president John Bryan.

Mr Bryan was responding to recent remarks by the Polish Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki that “at least half” of the EU’s farming budget should be earmarked for modernisation projects. Mr Sawicki said this funding shift would help make EU farms more competitive.

Mr Sawicki said the Common Agricultural Policy needs “profound reform” if farmers are to take advantage of the rise in global food demand.