Farmers ready for single payments
Some 122,000 entitlements are being issued to farmers by the Department of Agriculture, with another 30,000 to follow. The payments will total €1.3 billion.
Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh said the development was a major milestone.
The single payment will replace seven livestock and arable aid premia schemes from January 1 as part of the radical reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
IFA deputy president Ruaidhri Deasy said that yesterday was an important day on the road to a new CAP.
He said for 30 years the CAP supported farm incomes through price management for grain, beef and milk and was heavily influenced by Brussels decisions.
“These supports are being removed and food processors will have to pay economic prices to secure supplies and give farmers a viable return,” he said.
Mr Deasy said in future product prices and production costs would determine farmers’ incomes.
The new regime would seriously challenge the competitiveness of the food processing industry and the volume of output would depend on competitive farming and an efficient processing industry.
Mr Deasy urged farmers to study their initial payment calculation and contact the Dept of Agriculture helpline with any queries.
ICMSA president Pat O’Rourke said the issuing of single farm payment letters marks a watershed for agriculture. The focus must be on ensuring every farmer gets proper entitlement and problem cases are dealt with fairly.
The return from the market place must be maximised to ensure farm incomes increase in future.
He added: “Therefore, it is essential that costs are controlled in Ireland and we continue to invest in market development for quality food that is being produced in Ireland.”
