IFA accuses Coveney of grossly understating threat posed by CAP

More than 600 Irish farmers stand to lose more than 70% of their single farm payment in the 2014 revamp of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, says Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

The European Commission has proposed redistribution of direct payments by moving to uniform per hectare payments, or flat rates, by 2019, in each member state or region of a member state.

Mr Coveney said that the overall allocation to Ireland would not change, but about 57,000 Irish farmers would lose 33% of their SFP, on average, while about 76,000 would gain 86% on average.