Single farm payment must be expedited

Ireland: The new single farm payment should be brought forward because beef producers are facing severe financial hardship, according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association.

Malcolm Thompson, president, said payments under the scheme are due from December 1 but there are provisions to bring them forward from October 16.

Beef farmers have suffered serious losses as a result of the freefall in beef prices over the last number of weeks.